By: Ifeoma Ejiofor
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate for Ihiala federal constituency, Barr Johnmary Akachukwu Maduakolam, has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to mobilize her staffers to his area for an effective swap of old currency for the new one.
Barr Maduakolam, an Anambra state-based legal luminary, appealed during an interactive session with journalists in his Azia country home.
He pointed out that Ihiala federal constituency consists of ten towns, namely Ihiala, Uli, Amorka, Okija, Mbosi, Azia, Ubuluisizo, Isseke, Lilu, and Orsumoghu.
Barr Maduakolam said that in the name of equity and justice, the CBN should mobilize her staff to Ihiala LGA to assist the people to swap their old currencies for new ones.
He said that this has become imperative because the commercial banks in Ihiala could not meet the needs of the urban and rural dwellers in changing their old currencies for the new ones.
“We have seen on national television how the CBN mobilized some of her staff to the rural areas in the northern part of Nigeria to have the rural dwellers seamlessly swap their old currencies for the new ones.
“Ihiala local government area comprises many farming communities, and are equally qualified for the special treatment their contemporaries in the north are getting. I must state with all sense of responsibility that many people in my constituency usually go to Nnewi and as far as Asaba in Delta State for their banking activities.
“We have twenty political wards, namely Okija ward 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Uli 1, 2, 3, Amorka ward, Mbosi ward, Azia ward, Isseke ward, Lilu ward, Orsumoghu ward, Ubuluisizo ward, Amamu A, Amamu B, Ogboro ward, Uzoakwa ward, and Ihite ward.” He explained.
The UK-trained lawyer said that the development of travelling long distances exposed his people to untold hardship and risks, as anything could happen in the course of moving a huge amount of money from Ihiala to other parts of the state and beyond.
He said that he would engage the commercial banks after winning the 2023 House of Representatives election to see how more commercial banks can establish their branches in his constituency so that his constituents can have ease of banking.
“We are where we are today because nobody has been speaking for Ihiala LGA, we have decided to change the narrative by ensuring that our constituency occupies her pride of place among her contemporaries. It’s rather unfortunate that Ndi-Ihiala have to go to Nnewi, Awka, Onitsha and even Asaba for their banking transactions. This is too risky for my people and not acceptable.” He asserted.
