Muslim Group Tells Buhari: Withdraw All Naira Notes Lacking Arabic Inscriptions

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw all ‘‘scam’’ Naira notes printed under Gooluck Jonathan’s government because they lack Arabic inscriptions.

Speaking in a recent statement, Prof. Akintola accused Jonathan’s government of deliberately attempting to ‘‘hurt the Muslim population’’ by ensuring that the N100 notes printed under that government were without Islamic inscriptions.

The statement read, “It was not the first time this would happen. Arabic inscriptions which have always been on Nigerian currency since independence were unceremoniously removed in 2005 from N5, N10, N20 and N50 denominations during the reign of Olusegun Obasanjo,

“But Nigerians need to know that this move was calculated to hurt the Muslim population and may end up as a disservice to the nation.

“The average northerner cannot read any other script except in Arabic Ajami and anyone who wants to communicate with him effectively must use the Ajami, not even writings in Hausa language can help in this matter.

“Millions of northerners have therefore been marginalised by removing the Arabic Ajami. Currencies worldwide are designed to suit each nation’s culture and history. Incidentally, Nigeria is a multireligious entity. In this case, therefore, our cultural and religious homogeneity should be the criteria, particularly when designing our banknotes, our stamps, etc.

“We are all taxpayers and to that extent we all deserve representation.

“Nigerians consider Jonathan’s N100 note inferior to others printed earlier. It is of very low quality. It tears easily. It lacks second-hand value. It grows soft and fragile with time, thereby making it difficult to handle or fold in people’s pockets or wallets.

“It has therefore failed as a veritable means of exchange. Placed side by side with the old N100 note which still has the Arabic Ajami inscription and which is still in circulation, Jonathan’s N100 shrinks into oblivion.

“MURIC demands the withdrawal of Jonathan’s N100 note from circulation and the reinstatement of Arabic Ajami on N200, N500 and N1, 000 denominations.

“We affirm that Jonathan’s N100 note was a scam. We, therefore, call for a probe. We warn against any attempt by any future Nigerian leader to remove Arabic Ajami from the few remaining denominations.”