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Tag: Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

  • Jonathan’s curse?

    Jonathan’s curse?

    No, no, the curse of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Nigeria’s president, is no curse at all. It is rather a deleterious attitude to rush when he should tarry but tarry when he should rush. That way, he loses the best and retains the worst.

    Losing the best: once upon a time, there was a Barth Nnaji, the Power minister. Even when all seemed lost, and the president and commander-in-chief appeared indeed sincerely clueless, Prof. Nnaji appeared to have figured out the power problem. It was not yet Uhuru, but things were looking up.

    But pronto, Nnaji had to go! The official line was he had a conflict of interest in the power privatisation, even if he made public his interest, active or dormant, in one of the interests contesting for the power utilities. The Economist, the London weekly, also darkly hinted the former minister was edged out because his power interests collided the one of another “Oga at the top”.

    Whatever it was however, clash of interest is anti-transparency. So, maybe on sheer principle, Prof. Nnaji needed to go. But with him, appears to have gone the putative power magic, for the Nebo Chinedu power regime is more of the same old darkness.

    Again, losing the best: figuratively yesterday, there was Bolaji Abdullahi, the Sports minister, who won virtually all there was to win in African and global football: 2013 African Cup of Nations, 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, qualification for 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and steady ascendancy of the Super Eagles in Africa.

    But again, Mallam Abdullahi had to go, not because of his bad job record but because his political godfather became an emergency presidential “enemy”. In Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) court, loyalty and stellar service to the country are not enough. Only grovelling, flag-waving loyalty to self and party would do!

    Retaining the worst: and the Stella Odua’s Stella-gate readily comes to mind. Ms Odua, accused of blowing public money on fancy armoured vehicles rode her scandal as a whale would ride the boiling ocean, supremely convinced she would triumph. She didn’t triumph at the end, but it was not for lack of trying. Despite Stella-gate, Jonathan lost his appetite to fire, even if according to him, he has “absolute power” to hire and fire.

    Still, retaining the worst: and the latest Abba Moro eyesore is the latest of Jonathan’s stonewalling, when his presidential ire should be at its whitest. After the death-for-job scam, which claimed no less than 19 Nigerian job-seekers and youth, Jonathan has suddenly forgotten his absolute power to fire.

    If you add the case of Diezani Allison-Madueke, who continues to sit pretty in office for presiding the alleged NNPC scams and CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who promptly got booted out for blowing the whistle, it is easy to figure the Jonathan curse is a peculiar one.

    And the cheek of it: Diezani is talking of subsidy removal, after the scandalous opacity she presides over at NNPC!

    Who will cure Jonathan of his curse? Perhaps the electorate at the next vote.

  • Come, let us reason together

    Come, let us reason together

    SIR: I hereby, appeal to all Nigerians to come and reason together. Let us reflect deeply on the various ethnic, religious or political crises that we have passed through as a nation from 1960 till date. The main actors have always been behind the scenes. The major foot soldiers and victims of these senseless crises have always been the poor Nigerian youth.

    I continue to be amazed that our reactions to the several challenges and issues we face as a country are consistently based on primordial sentiments of ethnicity and religious affiliations. Take the recent cases of Bugaje versus the Niger Delta; Sanusi versus Jonathan; Amaechi versus Jonathan and Oduahgate amidst many others. When are we going to stop being used by the political elites for their selfish purposes?

    We have had 14 Presidents/Heads of State – nine from the North, two from the South-East, two from the South-West and one from the South-South. Why are we so deeply and foolishly concerned about the particular ethnic origin of who becomes the President in 2015 instead of being more reflectively concerned about the candidate with the best visionary ideology on how to move the country forward?

    Why is the level of poverty so high in the North today despite the fact that nine of our Presidents/Heads of State are of northern origin? We are all agreed that one of the factors that fueled the Boko Haram crises is abject poverty in the North-east. Lest we forget, BH is also a creation of the political class!

    Why is there sustained poverty and infrastructural deficiencies in the South-south in the more than four years of a President from the region? Has the life of the average poor Niger Deltan fared better than before 2010 when compared to Nigerians from other regions?

    Lest we forget, the longest serving President (11 years) is from the South-west. The Nigerian economy is road-driven. Why were the Ilorin – Lagos (the main West-North route), Sagamu – Benin – Ore (the main West – East – South-South route) roads not completed under his presidency?

    How exactly have we, the Nigerian masses, fared better as Christians or Muslims under a Christian or Muslim President? Why can’t we deliver ourselves from our self-imposed socio-political delusions?

    When the elites meet and complain of their region being marginalized, they do not speak for us the masses being marginalized, but for the political elites who have lost out in the political control of our resources!

    Come to think of it: Which of the regions in Nigeria is not afflicted with poverty and infrastructural deficiencies? Which of the regions is free of poor roads, poorly – equipped schools and institutions, insufficient water supply or irregular power supply? Our problems are the same. Let us all work best to begin solving our problems by voting for the best President come 2015.

    The year 2015 is a defining moment for our nation. Let us reflect creatively on how to deliver Nigeria from the clutches of socio-political retrogression, poverty, infrastructural deficiencies and systemic corruption. Let us all agree to vote for a visionary leadership irrespective of whether the candidate is from the North, West, East or South-South. Let us all shed the toga of primordial attachments to ethnicity or religion, and embrace the collective destiny of a more prosperous Nigeria.

     

    • Akinlolu, Abdulazeez Adelaja,

    University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

     

  • Presidency challenges Sanusi to respond to allegations against him

    Presidency challenges Sanusi to respond to allegations against him

    *Approves Forensic audit of NNPC accounts

    The Presidency has challenged the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to defend himself against the allegations raised against him.

    While advising Sanusi to stop misinforming the public, the Presidency insisted that his  suspension  had nothing to do with his claims that some sums of money were not remitted to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Addressing State House correspondents on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati maintained that Sanusi is spreading false allegations because he has axe to grind with the government.

    The Federal Government, he said, has authorized the engagement of reputable international firms to carry out forensic audit of NNPC accounts.

    He said: “We have noted with disappointment, the unrelenting attempt by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to falsely portray his recent suspension from office as an attempt by the Presidency to bury his allegation that huge sums of money due to the Federation Account are unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

    “The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that Mallam Sanusi’s suspension has absolutely nothing to do with his unproven and inconsistent claim that $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion is missing from the national treasury.

    “As was clearly stated in the letter suspending him from office and confirmed by President Goodluck Jonathan in his last Presidential Media Chat, Mallam Sanusi’s suspension was wholly based on the need for him to step aside while the weighty charges of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and persistent disregard for laid down rules and regulations in the management of the Central Bank made against him by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are properly investigated.”

    He went on: “It is most unfortunate that instead of trying to provide some reasonable response to the clear and unambiguous query of his official conduct as Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi  has cynically chosen to whip up public sympathy for himself and anger against the Federal Government by deliberately misleading unwary Nigerians and the international community into believing the falsehood that he is being punished for exposing corruption.

    “In recent days, the suspended CBN Governor has, following in the footsteps of others who have an axe to grind with the government, taken to spreading his false claims and allegations through gullible foreign media correspondents, telling them among other things that his threat to force commercial banks to open up their books to unravel the whereabouts of the “missing” funds whether $49.8 Billion, $12 Billion or $20 Billion, ultimately led to his suspension.”

    “He also continues to make the mischievous claim that the government is somehow involved in a scam to divert huge sums of money from the Federation Account through the misappropriation of kerosene subsidy funds.”

    Stressing that Sanusi’s allegations are untrue, Abati said that Government is making no effort to bury them as falsely claimed.

    According to him,  relevant committees of the National Assembly are still investigating the claims and that the suspended CBN Governor is free to give evidence before them to back up his allegations.

    “Furthermore, in keeping with its avowed commitment to full transparency, openness and accountability in governmental affairs, the Federal Government has authorized the engagement of reputable international firms for the recommended forensic audit of NNPC accounts.”

    “The Presidency condemns Mallam Sanusi’s resort to playing politics with serious national issues.  His suggestion that the phantom missing funds may have been diverted to fund campaigns for next year’s general elections is mischievous, irresponsible and designed to incite other political parties and members of the public against the Federal Government.”

    “The claim which amounts to cheap blackmail against the government and was clearly made in furtherance of a selfish personal agenda is most unbecoming of someone who still holds the High Office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

    “The Presidency would not ordinarily have wished to join issues with Mallam Sanusi who as CBN Governor remains an appointee of the President, but the very unacceptable manner in which Sanusi has been misinforming the public made it imperative that this statement be issued,” Abati added

  • Why Governor Shettima is right; a preface

    Why Governor Shettima is right; a preface

    As the reader can see I have devoted virtually the whole of today’s column to reactions to my last two columns; the first on the need for the new opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to get its act together, if it is to have any chance of unseating the ruling PDP in next year’s election, and the second on the spat between President Goodluck Jonathan and the sacked governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, ostensibly on his alleged “reckless” management of the CBN, but in reality over Sanusi’s whistle blowing on the apparent grand thefts of the country’s oil and its revenues.

    The first article elicited only 18 text messages and a few emails while the second got 69 and a couple of emails. One of the texts on the second piece expressed great disappointment that I wrote on the GEJ/SLS spat when I should’ve done so on the blood curdling middle-of-the-night massacre of pupils of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, Yobe State, the day before, allegedly by elements of Boko Haram.

    “I,” the reader who texted from +2347067280114 but did not give his name said, “was expecting to read from you a lamentation on the killing of innocent students of so-called unity college. Haba mallam!”

    The reader’s disappointment, possibly even anger, is understandable. The problem, however, is that we’ve had too many lamentations and condemnations by just about everybody but little or no sign that President Jonathan, on whose table the buck stops, is sincerely willing and/or capable of dealing with the terrible insurgency.

    Of all the things that raise doubts about his commitment and capacity to end the insurgency none has been as revealing as his angry retort at the remark, no doubt dead on target, by a tearful Governor Ibrahim Kashim Shettima of Borno State, following Boko Haram’s sacking of Kauri, Idzge and Konduga villages in the state, that the insurgents “are better armed and better motivated” than our military and are therefore not about to be routed anytime soon by the military.

    Next week, God willing, Shettima’s remarks and the president’s reaction will be the subject of this column.

    For today I leave you with some of the mixed reactions to my last two pieces.

     

    FEEDBACK

    Re: “GEJ versus Sanusi, the whistleblower”

     

    Sir,

    One of my favourite topics in my O’ Level School Certificate Government, is the Principle of Collective Responsibility. The Central Bank governor cannot be a whistleblower in a government he is part of. The honourable thing to do is resign and blow the whistle from outside.

    When Eze Festus Odimegwu opened his mouth wide about goings-on at National Population Commission, as regards Census figures in Nigeria, Gov. Kwankwaso and company went to the Presidential Villa, and prevailed on President Jonathan to sack him. Odimegwu was eventually sacked and heaven did not fall.

    So Sanusi deserves his sack because no employee ever dictates the terms and conditions of his employment.

    Sanusi’s behaviour lately reminds me of late Chinua Achebe’s story of the bird, Nza, which dared his CHI (personal god) to a wrestling bout after enjoying a sumptuous meal. Of course, we have now seen the outcome of the wrestling match. Sanusi’s sack is good riddance!

    Chukwuma Dioka. +2348166933115

     

    Sir ,

    He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Sanusi is guilty of what he accused Jonathan of. The kettle cannot call the pot black. They are all thieves.

    Ibegbu. +2348035410176

     

    Sir,

    Sanusi lives in glass house and was dropping stones in the president’s ATM machine, the NNPC.

    Patrick. +2348032571244

     

    Sir,

    If you were the president will you allow Sanusi to remain on seat fighting you directly?

    Engr. Anolue. +2348037114167

     

    Sir,

    In your write up you failed to take note of the fact that Sanusi said he saw the allegations against him on the day he was suspended. This is critical and touches on principles of fair hearing.

    +2348123464980

     

    Sir,

    Jonathan and his government have been a terrible disappointment, a ‘Badluck’ and a curse on Nigerians. The man is busy picking fights against his betters like Amaechi and now Sanusi while Boko Haram continues to slaughter innocent Nigerians right under his nose and he remains criminally clueless and helpless. This impunity, corruption, social injustices, security ineptitude and economic malversation characteristic of his government must stop.

    +2348096966605

     

    Sir,

    Police were on the trail of armed robbers, a prostitute informed of their whereabouts. Please let’s arrest the armed robbers first, collect our $20 billion then face the lesser offender. The government waited for months after Lamido’s request and realising that the man is determined, dusted up a report that will not stand in a law court but gain popularity in beer parlours in Bayelsa.

    Cardinal O.C. Arogundade. +2348055567777

     

    Sir,

    Please tell them, in case they don’t know, that even if they acquire the whole world they will leave everything behind on their deaths.

    +2348053263196.

     

    Sir,

    I agree with you that Sanusi has won the hearts of the poverty-stricken Nigerians, while the position of the president remains unenviable. What I want to add to your incisive piece is this: the eyes of the poor have opened. They now know that the present suffering did not fall from the sky but flows from corruption in high quarters.

    Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna. +2347085284103

    Sir,

    Under section 11 (1) (b) of the interpretation act, the power to hire includes the power to suspend.

    Abubakar Sani, Abuja/Kano. +2348034533892

     

    Sir,

    Whenever a father uses hammer to kill mosquito when a wild snake is left roaming around in the house, the child standing by is put in a state of confusion. May we see Nigerian army strike again to handle the mega thieves in the oil cartel.

    Ondas Nas. +2348032399800.

     

    Re: For APC, time is ticking

     

    The opposition APC using paid loyalists like you in their employ is engaging in subjective and destructive criticism against Africa’s biggest party. Cure yourself of deliberate blindness and discover that APC is too desperate, immature and unprepared to rule Nigeria. I wish you both good luck. You need it.

    Dr. Ifeanyi Nwaeboh. +2348163295663.

     

    Sir,

    I am an Igbo man and the problem with people of my tribe is lack of knowledge and blind sentiment. Each time I make comments about GEJ and his corrupt government both on radio and in our gathering they accuse me of being an agent of Boko Haram. By God’s grace PDP mis-rule will end come 2015.

    Collins, Abuja. +2348059876387

     

    Sir,

    The APC appears to rely so much on propaganda.  It is stretching the capabilities of its talented Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.  But Lai alone cannot win the 2015 elections. The APC needs to encourage and nurture a formidable structure in all the 36 states of the federation to stand a good chance of occupying Aso Rock in 2015.

    For example, in most of the South East, apart from Imo State and to lesser degree Anambra state, the APC is in the hands of charlatans, who cannot even deliver their wards.  They are just after the crumbs they are expecting from the national secretariat or other APC controlled states.  And after the elections, they will drift back to their PDP pay-masters.  You will recall how the South East CPC disowned General Muhammadu Buhari after the 2011 elections.

    Azunna Nnamani, Enugu State.

     

    Sir,

    Your piece on For APC, Time is Ticking is a free consultancy for the APC which you should also extend to the PDP.  Perhaps, because of your interest in APC, you are too soft on their current leaders as to point out their incompetence.  Since the APC got five PDP governors to join them, they have not ceased celebrating to the extent that they appear to have forgotten that the main purpose of all the manoeuvring is the 2015 elections. Their congresses are supposed to be a few days or few weeks away and yet they have not come out with the modalities for the congresses.  This is where PDP is better.  Kindly give PDP some credits next time.

    James Onoriode, Sapele

     

    Sir,

    Usually it is not in my character to reply to publications like your article on the back page of The Nation of 18/02/2014 but I have to make an exemption to the rule for correction purpose only and only to set the record straight.

    The party, All Progressives Congress, came as a result of the merger between the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a group from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Senator Annie Okonkwo, and a group from the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) led by late Senator Pius Ewherido and my humble self.

    I represented DPP throughout the process leading to the merger. Two positions, National Auditor and Deputy National Organising Secretary were allocated to the DPP. Today, I am the Interim National Auditor while the former state chairman of DPP in Imo State Chief Romanus Egbuladike is the Deputy National Organising Secretary.

    Sir Olisaemeka Akamukali.

  • ACF, Amaechi fault suspension

    ACF, Amaechi fault suspension

    Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday faulted the suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.

    It accused President Goodluck Jonathan of ignoring due process in taking the action.

    Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi also said Dr. jonathan acted with impunity by his action.

    Amaechi, who spoke yesterday at Christ Church, Port Harcourt, during a service organised for the induction of the Resident Minister and reception of the Assistant Resident Ministers, said: “You can imagine how President Jonathan announced the sudden removal (suspension) of the CBN Governor. He does not have such powers. He knows that nothing will happen. That was why he took that action.

    “While we are talking about the problem and the ways to end religious wars in the country, others are busy stealing our money. Maybe they are using it to divert our attention. The issue of the missing $49.8 billion from the federation account is still there. If you convert that money to naira, you will get N80 trillion and that money can solve the problem of this country for the next few years.

    “The federal government said they used the money for this and that, but the constitution says nobody can tamper with that money. The money must first be paid into the federation account. So that Rivers State or Imo State can have its share, but the Federal Government has gone upfront to collect this money, without actually following the due process as stipulated by law.”

    “So, the preachers should begin to preach what we call the Liberation Theology. You (church leaders) are supposed to have more responsibilities to hold government accountable.”

    The NGF chairman also admonished members of the Christ Church, Port Harcourt to accord more trust, confidence and encouragement to the newly-inducted resident minister, Rev. Kaleb Kay Uche, and the assistant resident ministers, Rev. Canon

  • APC to presidency: don’t profit from Boko Haram insurgency

    APC to presidency: don’t profit from Boko Haram insurgency

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the failed attempt by a presidential aide, Reno Omokri, to link suspended CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the heightened attacks by Boko Haram, has shown the presidency may be seeking to profit, politically and otherwise, from the insurgency that has dispatched thousands to their early graves.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Omokri’s attempt to push an article he authored into the public domain, using a fake name, is the clearest indication yet that the Presidency has a case to answer and may have been feeding Nigerians with doctored information.

    It said the attempt to blame the recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram on Sanusi raises some pertinent questions: Is the presidency trying to gain political mileage from the death of innocent Nigerians, including school children, whom it could not protect? Could this be why the government has largely treated the insurgency with levity, especially in its early days? Does the presidency know more than it is telling Nigerians on Boko Haram? Is there a government Boko Haram that acts on instructions from some quarters? Is anyone in government profiting financially from the battle against Boko Haram that they may be sabotaging efforts to end the insurgency?

    ‘’The best way to know the answers to these questions is for the State Security Service to immediately arrest and question Omokri on why he was trying to act by subterfuge to misinform Nigerians, how long he has been engaged in this shameful and irresponsible act, what his connections are, if any, with Boko Haram, and whether or not his handlers, including the President, approve of his chicanery,’’ APC said.

    The party said Omokri’s dangerous game should be seen within the context of some curious coincidence between several past Boko Haram attacks and certain low moments and/or at critical junctures in the administration of President Jonathan, giving the impression of an unseen hands playing the puppeteer.

    Giving some instances, it said the Jan. 20th 2012 deadly attacks in Kano that left about 162 dead occurred at the height of the fuel subsidy protests that shut down the country; the Christmas Day attack in Suleja that killed about 37 people and injured 57 seems to be a distraction from the series of deadly attacks that had rocked the country earlier; the fact that Boko Haram struck within days of Alaemieyeseigha and Diyarbakir amnesty that attracted widespread criticism, and then the resurgence of Boko Haram that coincided with Sanusi’s suspension.

    ‘’The coincidences become even more curious when viewed against the apparently informed statements by two Governors in the North-east, where recent attacks have been concentrated. First, Borno Governor Kashim Shettima called attention to the fact that we need to do more to fortify our troops if they are to defeat Boko Haram, only for the statement to be twisted out of context and a vicious offensive launched against him by presidential attack dogs

    ‘’Secondly, Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, himself a retired military top brass, wondered aloud why the checkpoint near the FGC in Yobe was removed before the attack and who ordered the removal? Why the authorities have not been able to trace the deadly weapons being used by Boko Haram to the manufacturers? Who transports the weapons and how is that possible when the states affected are under a state of emergency? why retired Gen. Shuwa was killed and the army failed to respond during the attack on his residence, and why the air force base in Maiduguri was attacked even with an army unit nearby

    ‘’Thirdly, the fact that the attacks have spiked as we move closer to the 2015 elections, and a presidential aide is trying to link a perceived enemy of the Jonathan Administration to the insurgency suggest the government may be viewing the terrorist attacks as a wild card to be leveraged one way or the other ahead of the elections,’’ APC said.

    The party said while these are complex issues, the first step in resolving them should start with Omokri, the President’s Social Media attack dog who may have now overreached himself!

  • Aborishade condemns Sanusi’s suspension

    Aborishade condemns Sanusi’s suspension

    Human rights activist, Mr Femi Aborisade has described the suspension of Governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as a fight back by the powerful forces in the structure of the Nigerian State. He said the injustice meted out to Lamido must be condemned at all times regardless of the person or class of persons involved.

    Aborisade regretted “that a regime that seeks to be perceived as fighting corruption can have the effrontery to suspend a CBN Governor who has been revealing leakages in the fuel subsidy scam.”

    In a statement titled: “Suspension of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi: An Indication of Corruption Fighting Back”, the activist noted that Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 provides that the Governor and Deputy Governors shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate.

    In the same way, he claimed, the provision to Section 11 (2) of the CBN Act states that the removal of Governor, Deputy Governors and Directors of the CBN by the President is subject to being supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate.

    Aborisade said from the foregoing provisions of the CBN Act, there is no provision for the suspension of the CBN Governor, Deputy Governor or Director.

    Reiterating that the position of law is that the right to suspend must be expressly stated; it cannot be implied, he declared the suspension of Lamido Sanusi as not only illegal, it ultra vires the powers of Mr President.

    Aborisade pleaded that the fight to resist Lamido Sanusi’s illegal suspension should not be left to him alone but should be taken up by the National Assembly, whose role in the removal process has been usurped by Mr President.

     

  • ACF, Amaechi fault suspension

    ACF, Amaechi fault suspension

    Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday faulted the suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.

    It accused President Goodluck Jonathan of ignoring due process in taking the action.

    Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi also said Dr. jonathan acted with impunity by his action.

    Amaechi, who spoke yesterday at Christ Church, Port Harcourt, during a service organised for the induction of the Resident Minister and reception of the Assistant Resident Ministers, said: “You can imagine how President Jonathan announced the sudden removal (suspension) of the CBN Governor. He does not have such powers. He knows that nothing will happen. That was why he took that action.

    “While we are talking about the problem and the ways to end religious wars in the country, others are busy stealing our money. Maybe they are using it to divert our attention. The issue of the missing $49.8 billion from the federation account is still there. If you convert that money to naira, you will get N80 trillion and that money can solve the problem of this country for the next few years.

    “The federal government said they used the money for this and that, but the constitution says nobody can tamper with that money. The money must first be paid into the federation account. So that Rivers State or Imo State can have its share, but the Federal Government has gone upfront to collect this money, without actually following the due process as stipulated by law.”

    “So, the preachers should begin to preach what we call the Liberation Theology. You (church leaders) are supposed to have more responsibilities to hold government accountable.”

    The NGF chairman also admonished members of the Christ Church, Port Harcourt to accord more trust, confidence and encouragement to the newly-inducted resident minister, Rev. Kaleb Kay Uche, and the assistant resident ministers, Rev. Canon

  • Sanusi: A case of executive recklessness

    Sanusi: A case of executive recklessness

    SIR: There is no better way to describe suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by President Goodluck Jonathan than to say that it is a crude display of power and an attack on free speech, especially when it is evident that this is coming on the heels of accusations of corruption against the NNPC by the CBN governor. The oil sector is believed to be under the ampits of those highly connected to the president. This shameful action also lends credence to the fact that President Jonathan has continued to live in denial as he has demonstrated in recent time that the powers conferred on him by our extant laws are not enough for him. It is even more sad that these violations keep happening before the very eyes of the nation’s number one legal officer, Attorney General of Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN). Ordinarily, Nigerians expect that the AGF should advise and properly guide the president on a right legal approach to take.

    The Presidency’s action is a paradox. The reason is that its action is completely at variance with what he would want Nigerians to believe informed the suspension of the CBN boss from office. For instance, the purported suspension was anchored on “financial recklessness” levelled against the governor by a so called report of the Financial Reporting Council. The CBN governor was accused of taking actions and financial decisions that ran foul of the law. It is worthy to note that the president has not demonstrated a better respect for existing laws in this regard. If President Goodluck so much cherishes rule of law, one wonders why he had to circumvent the provisons of Section 11 of CBN Act 2007 (as amended) in suspending the governor. The implication of this action is abundantely clear: the Presidency has come to equity with soiled hands! He has no such power to suspend the CBN governor. He only has power to remove the governor subject to 2/3 approval of the Senate.

    Unfortunately, the supporters of this authocratic action have not been able to justify their supports beyond the fact that the CBN boss deserved to be shown the way out for “running aground” the institution. I know as a fact that Nigerians would not be opposed to the removal of the governor if he was found wanting. Our contention is that such removal must and should conform with laid down norms. It should not be done at the whims and caprices of the presidency. The argument that he who hires has the right to fire does not hold any water under the circumstance. Unlike in the normal contract of service, the appointment and removal of the CBN governor is strictly regulated by the Act and until such provisions are altered, the action of the president remains ultra-vires

    In a sanner society, where parliamentarians perform their duty without fear or favour, the action of the president is enough to start an impeachment proceeding against him. The simple reason is that nothing could be more gross in conduct than this flagrant violation of our law. Nigerians must demand from their lawmakers to do the needful on this matter. It would be most miserable of us to allow the president get away with this inpunity.

    •Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Lagos

  • A welcome challenge

    A welcome challenge

    •Sanusi’s decision to challenge his suspension in court is good for rule of law

    Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s recourse to seek judicial salvation in his bid to reclaim his post as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor is commendable. He was suspended as Governor of the CBN by President Goodluck Jonathan last month, and he is now in court through his attorney, Kola Awodein, SAN, to challenge the suspension in an Abuja Federal High Court. Such seeming presidential impunity had hitherto gone unchallenged.

    His bid to restrain the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector- General of Police from giving effect to his purported suspension from office, pending the determination of the suit, has been, understandably, rejected by the court. This interim setback notwithstanding, the court has in the interest of justice, ordered that the President should be put on notice while the matter was fixed for March 12 so as to avail both sides the opportunity to argue the motion.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole, the presiding judge’s ruling would definitely allow the defendants to appear before the court to explain why the application should not be granted. Despite this justice-oriented legalese, we must quickly state that what is of more significant interest to us is that the substantive suit will go a long way in determining whether statutory laws guiding the operations of institutions of government can be breached by the President when suspending or removing the heads of such agencies from office.

    We do know that Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 in Section 11 clearly provides instances under which the governor or any of his deputies can be removed from office. None, to the best of our understanding, allows for presidential suspension of the governor. The only mention of the word ‘suspension’ is in section 11(1)(d) and that relates to the removal of the governor whenever he is disqualified or suspended from practicing his profession in Nigeria. And surprisingly, that was not the case in the prevailing circumstance. Furthermore, the only time the President can exercise any disciplinary control or recommend the removal of the CBN Governor is under section 11(1)(f) and that recommendation must be supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate before the CBN governor can be successfully removed. We will always stand by the tenets of the Rule of Law because this is by far preferable to the rule of the jungle – which we are deeply convinced Nigeria is not -but a sovereign country governed by rules and regulations. Her affairs should be devoid of sentiments but anchored on these written rules and regulations.

    We abhor official meddlesomeness, which is why the recourse to judicial solution in the present impasse is well appreciated. Some years back when Professor Maurice Iwu was unilaterally removed by the President, the move was applauded not because of its legality but because the public was already fed up with his leadership style as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Sadly, the seeming public approval given that illegal presidential act must have given the President the impetus to go ahead and suspend Sanusi as CBN governor. Unfortunately, in Sanusi’s case, this act is only tantamount to an indirect termination of his appointment because before the expiration of the period of suspension, his tenure would have expired, thereby making restitutio in integrum impossible.

    We consider this case a testy good one that is capable of extending the frontiers of constitutional governance and causing a reduction in executive impunity, now or in the future. It is even the more imperative that we know the position of the law on such matters, especially with general elections only about a year away. A situation where the fear of the President will be the beginning of wisdom is not good for INEC, for example. This would have been settled long since if Iwu had the courage to challenge his removal by the President.