Naira: Don’t foist unpopular decision on Nigerians, Arewa youths warn CBN

Nigerian youths from the Northern part of the country on Tuesday warned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to resist attempts from any quarters to foist decisions regarding the devaluation of the naira that will make the masses poorer.

The youths, under the aegis of Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) through their acting Speaker, Muhammad Azare Tahir, were reacting to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s call that CBN should adjust the naira exchange rate “to be as reflective of the market as possible to boost supply”.

Tahir, in a statement, said the call was deliberately made to pitch President Muhammadu Buhari against the masses who were at the receiving end of any rash economic decision.

The statement reads in part: “The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) is deeply worried about the call by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to devalue the naira.

“As youths who have many members that are knowledgeable in economics, we are of the view that this call was deliberately made to pitch President Muhammadu Buhari against the masses who will be at the receiving end of any rash economic decision such as this.

“We are, therefore, calling on the CBN to resist any attempt to foist any unpopular decision on it because it will be made the scapegoat once the populace begins to bear the brunt.”

The youths also called on leaders to stop playing politics with issues such as the economy, adding that CBN should avoid such policy by all means in order not to attract unnecessary criticism from the Nigerian populace.