MURIC’s allegation of Zionist’s symbol on N100 note ‘unfounded -Jonathan

…demands apologies

By Lawrence Olaoye

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described the allegation made the Muslims Right Concern (MURIC) that the proposed commemorative new N100 note had a Jewish symbol as unfounded, mischievous and spurious.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, stated “our attention has been drawn to a press statement issued by MURIC and signed by Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who is the Director of the group, which made a number of allegations against President Jonathan while alleging that there is a Jewish symbol in the proposed commemorative new N100 note which will be officially issued on December 19.

“It is not true that President Jonathan is using the highest office in the country to promote Zion nation. I think that is a most unfortunate statement coming from Prof. Akintola of MURIC and for which they owe President Jonathan an apology.

“The symbol his statement is referring to is the Star of David. There is no where on that proposed note as indicated in the specimen that has been widely publicized where there is any Jewish or Zionist symbol or the Star of David.

“The Star of David is a hexagram, which is two triangles of equal lines superimposed on each other. The hexagram is a very popular symbol but it is not on that naira note.

“The symbol that he is referring to is not a Jewish symbol. It is what they call spark security feature. It is an optical magnetic feature, which enables the public to authenticate a currency note whether it is genuine or counterfeit. That is the function of that particular design.

“That design is not an hexagram and it is not in any way associated with Israel or Jewish or Zionism. It is two squares merged into one with a Manila briquette, which is a symbol of the cowrie money used during the colonial era.

“It is an attempt on the part of MURIC to cause disaffection; because on the design of that note, the value of that note is written out in the three major languages in Nigeria, recognised in the constitution: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

“No attempt has been made to use this proposed naira note to discriminate anybody and the attack on President Jonathan is undeserved, unwarranted and totally unkind”, he stated.

The president’s spokesman said he was of the belief that MURIC will see the need to quickly apologise for misleading the public and for issuing that kind of statement that can cause disaffection against the President.