Leave now, You can’t combine delicate CBN job with partisan politics – Gov. tells Emefiele

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The presidential ambition of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, may have attracted the ire of the Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who has asked him to resign now as he cannot combine partisan politics with the very delicate assignment of his office. 

Akeredolu who disclosed this in a statement officially signed by him on Friday May 6th 2022 advised the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to remove him forthwith should he refuse to quit.

Following Emefiele’s moves to contest the 2023 presidential election under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress(APC) culminating in his purchase of N100m expression of interest form which the governor has described is a joke taken too far.

The Ondo State Governor, reiterated that it is difficult to imagine that a person who occupies the exalted and sensitive office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be  brazen in actualizing his ambition.

According to him, the combined effect of the Public Service Rules, CBN Act and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, exposes not only the oddity inherent in this brash exercise of presumed right to associate, adding that “This act, if unchecked, timeously, portends great danger to the fragile economy of the country.”

The statement reads” THE CBN GOVERNOR MUST DISENGAGE FORTHWITH

“The news of the purchase of Declaration of Intent and Nomination Forms to contest for the office of the President in the forthcoming general elections, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, purportedly by the supporters of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has been received with palpable disbelief and shock by many Nigerians.

“This act, if unchecked, timeousily, portends great danger to the fragile economy of the country.

“Rumours had been rife on the subterranean partisan activities linked to him through these shadowy characters in the recent weeks. Pictures of branded vehicles, ostensibly purchased for electioneering campaigns, were also posted on the social media.

” The audacious moves by those who claimed to be supporting this interest have been unsettling.

“This latest news confirms that the Governor may indeed be interested in immersing himself in the murky waters of politics like any other Nigerian with partisan interests. It is incontrovertible that Mr Emefiele enjoys a constitutionally protected right to belong to any group or association and participate fully, just as any Nigerian.

“It is, however, difficult to imagine that a person who occupies the exalted and sensitive office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be this brazen in actualizing his ambition.

“There is no gain asserting the obvious. The combined effect of the Public Service Rules, CBN Act and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, exposes not only the oddity inherent in this brash exercise of presumed right to associate.

” It also confirms the illegality of the act should he proceed to submit the forms while occupying the seat as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Emefiele and President Buhari

“Consequently, we admonish Mr Emefiele to leave the office, immediately, for him to pursue his interest. He cannot combine partisan politics with the very delicate assignment of his office. Should he refuse to quit, it becomes incumbent on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to remove him forthwith.

“This is a joke taken too far,” the Governor decried.