…disowns Chima Uzor
…DSS exceeding boundaries-Agbakoba
…Emefiele is a fall guy-Labour Party
… failed to redeem self- Akande
Reactions are pouring in concerning the suspension from office, of erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, by the Federal Government and his subsequent arrest and detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the weekend.
The reason for Emefiele’s arrest, according to Willie Bassie, Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was to facilitate ongoing investigations of activities at the CBN and to pave way for planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
Allegations against the embattled CBN governor by the DSS reportedly include terrorism financing, mismanagement of Nigeria’s social investment programme and the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme, sources say.
Emefiele was arrested in Lagos on Saturday by DSS operatives and flown to Abuja in a private jet.
In a statement credited to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, signed by Chima Uzor, the group was quoted as saying the suspension of Emefiele is “ethnic cleansing,” the Cable News reports.
However, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said the group has no affiliation with Uzor.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Iwuanyanwu asked security operatives to arrest Uzor for allegedly impersonating the group.
“Mazi Chima Uzor is an impersonator and unknown to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. There is no office for national interest matters in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” the statement reads.
“Ohanaeze has no intention whatsoever to interfere with investigations by the DSS or other security agents of the country.
“Ohanaeze also has no intention whatsoever to interfere with the disciplinary actions by the government on officials of the government.
“Individuals have a right to go to court and when the court of law proves the individual innocent and Ohanaeze is convinced that the individual is innocent, Ohanaeze will take every step necessary to assist the individual.
A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, expressed shock about the detention of the Governor of the CBN by the DSS.
Mr Agakoba said Mr Emefiele’s suspension was understandable. He added that the confirmation by the DSS that the suspended CBN governor was in its custody “comes as a shock”.
Mr Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in a short press statement, wondered which role the DSS would play in the matter.
“The suspension of the Governor of the CBN from office is not a surprise, as his tenure was way beyond monetary policy. But confirmation by DSS that Governor Emefiele is in its custody comes as a shock.
“The statutory role of DSS is internal security, and I shudder to think what role DSS will play in this matter. The rule of law says it all – can the relevant agency responsible for Governor Ememfiele step forward, but this excludes the DSS, unless this has security implications,” the statement read.
In a similar vein, the Labour Party (LP)has faulted the suspension and arrest of Emefiele, describing it as unconstitutional.
In a statement, LP spokesman, Obiora Ifo, said of the move: “It is laughable to read that statement as most Nigerians are already aware of the intention of the government. If indeed, there is any government agency that should be investigated with this utmost urgency, should it not be the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu?” the statement wondered.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is disturbed by the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend/sack the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, albeit unconstitutionally without seeking the permission of the national assembly and we insist that the action was not in good taste and sounds punitive,” the party added.
The LP recalled the naira swap policy of the Emefiele-led CBN which it claimed hurt the political class, adding that the former apex bank governor was just the “fall guy” whose “sin” of doing the currency redesign must not be forgiven.
It referenced a 2014 comment by the then-Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila which faulted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s removal of Sanusi Lamido as the CBN chief on the basis that the Nigerian leader had no such powers.
LP, however, wondered what changed now.
“Most Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the famous Naira redesign policy initiated by Emefiele primarily to check vote buying in the last general election. A noble policy which a particular candidate then, unfortunately, believed was targeted at him. To him, it was a mortal sin which cannot be forgiven and must be punished. Labour Party believes that Emefiele, a fall guy, is paying for his “sin”, the statement read.
Laolu Akande, spokesperson to former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has backed the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Reacting to the development, Akande, in a series of tweets, said persons of integrity would be “thankful” for the suspension of the CBN governor.
He said Emefiele failed to “redeem” himself despite being given a long rope, adding that his suspension brings relief.
“It was about time the CBN Governor faced suspension and investigation. All people of goodwill and those who value integrity, irrespective of political leanings would be thankful for this development,” Akande wrote.
“Emefiele was given a long rope but he failed to redeem himself.
“His shenanigans and the colossal damages he perpetrated at the CBN was to the utter detriment of the Nigerian people.”
Philip Agbese ,representative-elect, for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, described the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele as a corrupt economic rascal who had no business in governance.
Agbese, in a statement, Friday night, said by suspending Emefiele, the president has again displayed readiness for the job by taking drastic decisions for the good of the nation.
According to him, Emefiele’s dismissal and subsequent arrest are long overdue. He urged the President to go a step further to beam his searchlight on other corrupt officials in government.
