The man who started the war of oil derivation for Rivers State and the whole of the Niger Delta states, Evangelist Sokari Soberekon, in 1981 has come up with another agitation, this time with the Nigerian currency.
The 70 years old technocrat is strongly against the display of former military ruler, General Murtala Mohammed’s picture on the currency of N20 note. He is saying that the former military leader of the country’s face should be removed and be replaced by an elected president, Late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua on the same N20 note.
His reasons? He said no country all over the world has any military leader’s face on their currency as it does not agree with the principles of democracy in the world.
Furthering his reason, he said even in Africa such practice is not obtainable anywhere in the continent. Why should Nigeria who claimed to be the big brother of other African countries start showing bad example by doing what is not agreeable anywhere in the whole world?
He noted that if at all people should be remembered by their good works, Gen. Gowon’s picture should be there but in civilian attire, not military uniform.
“To say the least, the right thing should be done and the right thing is General Gowon fought to keep the country together. This is enough reason to have Gowon’s picture in at least one of the country’s currency notes. Like what I said before, he could only be there on any of the country’s currency notes on the ground that he is in civilian attires.
‘Under normal circumstances, the man elected by the people is the most cherished figure to appear on any of the country’s note. That is why Late Yar’Adua’s picture should be there as a way of remembering his sterling leadership qualities,” he said.
Evangelist Sokari Soberekon is old but still strong in heart agitating for the rights of the common and the entire nation, most especially the Niger Delta region, even as he has turned harvester of souls for God. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
previous post
