Kuti’s, Ekpo’s families reject N5000 note

By Segun Ajiboye  

 

Late Mrs Margaret Ekpo and Late Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti

In what could be regarded as a slap on the Federal Government’s gesture to have portraits of the late Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Gambo Sawaba on the proposed N5,000 bank note, families of the fallen heroines, Kuti and Ekpo, have rejected  the plan.

Reacting to the planned introduction of the N5,000 note in separate chats with The Nation during the week, families of Margaret Ekpo and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti said they are grateful to the Federal Government for the honour, which is in appreciation of their sterling contributions to the development of Nigeria, they, however, insisted that the gesture is ill-timed and negates what their matriarchs had always fought against when they were alive.

Speaking to our correspondents,  grandsons of the fallen activist, Edward and Robert Ekpo said: “She was one of those who fought for independence. Mma already has a refectory named after her in UNN. She has an airport in Calabar named after her. And looking at the calibre of women who will grace the note, I think these are women who paid their dues. 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? 

“It is a very big thing. I am of the opinion that if there is something else that can be used to immortalise the three of them, fine. I am not in support of the N5,000 note. There should be other things, other structures that can be used to immortalise them.  That is how I feel about it.”

Also speaking, Robert Ekpo described the introduction of a N5000 note as unnecessary, adding that it may lead to inflation.”

Robert on his part added: “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, daughter of the late afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti and granddaughter of the Ransome-Kuti matriarch, Funmilayo, offered her view: “The gesture is nice. I am happy that they are honouring my grandmother for her contribution to the freedom of the country. But 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 policy does not conform to her beliefs and the things she fought for and represented. The highest accolade they can give to my grandmother is to make Nigeria a livable country.”  

SOURCE: 1 September 2012.