Tobias Sylvester
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has condemned the reports that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was planning to join the presidential race.
Akeredolu Kick Against Emefiele’s Presidential Ambition
KanyiDaily recalls that the CBN Governor had picked the N100 million presidential nomination forms to contest the presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Emefiele, who had previously denied vying for the presidency, was alleged to be planning to officially declare his interest in contesting the 2020 presidency on the platform of the ruling party.
Reacting in a statement on Friday night, Akeredolu said news of Emefiele’s buying of the nomination form “has been received with palpable disbelief and shock by many Nigerians.”
Akeredolu asked Emefiele to resign from his position, stressing that he cannot participate actively in partisan politics and also hold the position of CBN governor.
The governor, who noted that Emefiele’s presidential ambition portends great danger to Nigeria’s fragile economy, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to terminate his appointment, if he refuses to resign, saying, “this is a joke taken too far.”
Ths statement reads, “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 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.
“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.”
KanyiDaily recalls that gunmen who claimed to be Niger Delta Agitators had nominated Godwin Emefiele as its candidate to run in the 2023 presidential election.
