by Isi Esene
The family of late women activist, Margaret Ekpo whose face is to be feature on the proposed N5000 note appears to have had a sudden change of heart as they are now expressing their support for the currency review announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
While speaking on behalf of the family on a Channels Television interview programme on Sunday, one of Ekpo’s granchildren said the family is “honoured, very delighted, and very pleased”.
Edward Ekpo, a grandson of the late activist, had a week ago rejected the proposal saying, “Putting someone’s face on a currency note is practically the biggest honour you can give to anybody. But how do you honour someone for something that only very few people are in support of?
“I am not in support of the N5,000 note. There should be other things, other structures that can be used to immortalize them. That is how I feel about it.”
Another member of the Ekpo family, Robert, responded to the government’s decision saying,”In my own opinion, I think it is unnecessary. I am not in support of it. It may lead to inflation. It is a thing of joy having your grandmom’s photograph on your country’s currency, but at the same time, I am not in support of the new denomination. What I am saying is that we should look for a way of adding value to our currency unit instead of bringing out a bigger denomination.”
Yeni Kuti, grandaughter of Funmilayo Kuti, whose image is also planned to grace the new N5000 note said, “I don’t think this is the right way to do it. Is the new note going to bring water to the people? Is it going to stop corruption? Or is it going to make our roads better and safer?”
This sudden change of position is shocking leading observers to wonder what must have informed it.
The CBN, through its governor, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, recently announced the planned introduction of a new N5000 note as part of its currency review programme which is expected to feature the images of three renowned activists, Mrs. Funmilayo Kuti, Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, and Hajia Gambo Sawaba.
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