Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has described as a great danger the intent of the incumbent Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Governor Akeredolu who made the condemnation in a message made available at the weekend, asked the CBN Governor to resign forthwith.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele had picked All Progressives Congress, APC one hundred million naira presidential form through persons the CBN Governor said came to him as a surprise. Adding, in the next couple of days he would decide whether to contest or not.
Godwin Emefiele also said through his Twitter account that he would have preferred to use his hard earned savings he secured for the past 35 years in banks leadership to procure the form rather than farmers using their own money.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in his condemnation of Emefiele political intent, asked the CBN Governor to resign and shows interest in the politics through the proper way.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu words:
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, timeously, 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.
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.
