The sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed its support for the suspension of Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Ohanaeze claimed that Emefiele allowed himself to be manipulated by the cabals that controlled the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has on Friday suspended Emefiele and directed that he transfers his responsibilities to the deputy governor, operations directorate Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi.
Sequel to the suspension was an arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) who has earlier announced that Emefiele is currently in their custody for “some investigative reasons”.
According to Ohanaeze, Emefiele played into the hands of the cabals who were opposed to Bola Tinubu becoming president. The organization made these remarks in response to Tinubu’s decision to suspend Emefiele from his position as the CBN governor, amidst an ongoing investigation into the apex bank.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, stated that Emefiele’s continued tenure in office would undermine Tinubu’s presidency. Speaking to journalists, Isiguzoro said that the suspension of Emefiele was the right decision.
“Emefiele allowed himself to be manipulated by cabals who never wanted Tinubu to become president. As a CBN governor, he should not have involved himself in the murky waters of politics. By being pushed to run for the APC presidential primaries against Tinubu and others, he compromised his position,” Isiguzoro remarked.
“We consider Emefiele’s suspension as a welcome development, and Ohanaeze applauds it. His continued stay in office would undermine Tinubu’s presidency, and the decision to suspend him is a step in the right direction,” Isiguzoro added.
While Ohaneze Ndigbo supports the suspension and arrest the Labour Party has heavily criticized it says; “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?”