BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, it would seem, is playing hide and seek with his presidential aspiration. Barely a day after three different groups claimed they came together to purchase the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of interest and Nomination forms for him to formally join the race, the CBN Governor has subtly rejected the forms saying he cannot contest the ticket with contributed money.
The CBN Governor who stated this in his verified Twitter handle @GodwinIEmefiele, said he has enough savings to purchase his Expression of interest and Nomination forms should he want to contest.
Emefiele, however, appreciated the groups and other Nigerians wooing him to go into the race of APC Presidential ticket by saying, “l am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the Office of President in the 2023 general elections: I have not come to that decision. I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds and offering me Presidential Nomination Forms: I thank them most profusely.
“However, should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard earned savings from over 35 years of banking leadership to buy my own Nomination Forms, without proxies in an open and transparent manner in full compliance with the laws and Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And should I not run for elected office, I will continue to serve and sacrifice for the good people of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is a serious decision that requires God’s Divine intervention: in the next few days the Almighty will so direct.”
Recall that three groups, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Friends of Emefiele and Emefiele Support Group last week obtained the APC Presidential forms for the Apex Bank Governor.
The groups said the reason for their push for Emefiele is because the CBN governor’s tenure as head of the Nigerian apex bank, has shown capacity, focus, courage and worked tirelessly with the economic team of President Mohammadu Buhari to keep the economy of our great country afloat above recession and outright collapse.
However, the action of the groups attracted reaction, as the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu responded to the action by asking Emefiele to resign as CBN Governor. The governor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said if the CBN governor would not resign, he should be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A prominent non-political organization, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), in its reaction mockingly suggested that since the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, could be asked to show his interest to contest to be the President of Nigeria whilst still holding on to supposed non-partisan national office, it wouldn’t be a shock should the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, buys the N100 million Presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The rights organisation through the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to allow his appointees to desecrate extant laws and abuse of their powers by dabbling into partisan politics whilst still holding on to publicly funded offices is a breach of section 15(5) of the Constitution which mandates Government to eradicate corruption practices and abuse of powers.
“Since the law setting up the Central Bank of Nigeria banned the holder of the office of the Governor of Central bank of Nigeria from running for political office whilst still holding on to the position of the Governor of the Central Bank which is a regulator of financial institutions and periodically introduces and implements national financial policies for the well-being of the Nation’s economy on the basis of non partisan platform same as the constitutional provision prohibiting the Chairman of INEC and National Commissioners from joining partisan politics, if the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood decides to buy his own N100 million Presidential nomination form from the All Progressives Congress, he would be allowed to conduct the 2023 poll in which he will run as a candidate.
“Legally, the CBN governor is violating the law by going into partisan Politics as a holder of the position of Governor of CBN because according to the extant Central Bank of Nigeria Act: A person shall not remain a Governor, Deputy Governor if he is –(a) a member of any Federal or State legislative house; or a Director, officer or employee of any bank licensed under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act.
“However, should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard earned savings from over 35 years of banking leadership to buy my own Nomination Forms, without proxies
“
“The Governor, Deputy Governor or Director shall cease to hold office in the Bank if he –becomes of unsound mind or, owing to ill health, is incapable of carrying out his duties; is convicted; is disqualified or suspended from practicing his profession in Nigeria by order of a competent authority made in respect of him personally; becomes bankrupt; removed by the President; Provided that the removal of the Governor shall be supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed.
“The CBN act states also that the Governor or any Deputy Governor may resign his office by giving at least three months’ notice in writing to the President of his intention to do so and any Director may similarly resign by giving at least one month’s notice in writing to the President of his intention to do so. It adds that if the Governor, any Deputy Governor of Director of the Bank dies, resigns or otherwise vacates his office before the expiry of the term for which he has been appointed, there shall be appointed a fit and proper person to take his place on the Board for the unexpired period of the term of appointment in the first instance.”
HURIWA lamented that Nigerians have so much indulged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which is why despite the obviously noticeable show of incompetence, people are willing to swallow anything from it. As a result, there is so much official impunity and lawlessness by the appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“If the so-called rice farmers who reportedly collected a lot of financial empowerment from the government through the current Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria can be said to have bought with his tacit approval the N100 million Presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling APC and the heavens have not falling and President Muhammadu Buhari is pretending like he is in another planet and therefore is not aware, what if the Chairman of INEC, who is banned statutorily from partisan politics just like the CBN Governor decides he will be participating in the Presidential poll through the political family of President Muhammadu Buhari APC?
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) described the calls on its chairman to join the race for the 2023 Presidential election as contemptible.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the electoral umpire frowned at the suggestion.
The INEC statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to innuendoes in certain quarters that Nigerians should not be surprised if the INEC Chairman joins the Presidential race or urging him to do so. It is a preposterous proposition. It will not happen.
“The Chairman remains an umpire committed to free, fair and credible elections. His constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the presidential election are onerous enough for him to even contemplate straying into extraneous matters at variance with the law, morality and his personal principles.
“The Chairman will continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill will against any political party or candidate,” he stated.
Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora have not only condemned the declaration and purchasing of forms by the CBN Governor but went ahead to express fears that by the way things are going, the INEC Chairman, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Naval Chief, Air Force Chief and even the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) may all declare and buy forms from the ruling APC.
HURIWA recalled the media reporting that the Governor of the CBN, Emefiele kept mum as ‘farmers’ across the country bought the N100m presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC.
Those who reportedly bought the form are operating under the banner of a coalition of commodity associations in Nigeria, just as news reports say the farmers took the decision of purchasing the forms for Emefiele on Wednesday at the end of a two-day intensive meeting in Maitama, Abuja, that drew more than 30 commodity associations from 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“They said the decision was reached having realized that the CBN governor is one of the trusted and tested Nigerians that have the commitment and competence to protect the interests of farmers across the country and give priority to the commodity and agricultural value chain.”
With photos of branded vehicles for his presidential aspiration and bill boards littering the length and breadth of Nigeria, for how long can Emefiele continue to play hide and seek with his ambition?
