In light of the terrorist accusations made against Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, economists have advised lawmakers and the Department of State Services, DSS, to avoid further destabilizing Nigeria’s economy.
The Coalition of National Interest Defenders accused the DSS on Monday of planning the detention and removal of the Central Bank of Nigeria governor in full face of the media.
During a news conference in Abuja, the coalition’s Coordinator, Tochukwu Ohazurike, made the accusation.
The organization said that the DSS filed a lawsuit against Emefiele at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of funding terrorism.
The nation’s secret agency responded to the media rumors by saying it was still concentrating on its mission.
“The DSS aims to maintain impartiality and focus while competently carrying out its job. By no circumstances will it give in to lies, threats, or the desperate attempts of hired thugs to discredit it. The DSS’s spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, stated in a statement to DAILY POST that “it will also not allow for the use of lies and deceit to misdirect public knowledge and views of issues of national importance.”
Meanwhile, a mob of demonstrators brandishing signs stormed Abuja’s streets calling for the ouster of Mr. Yusuf Bichi, director general of the DSS.
Idakolo: DSS is following a predetermined script about the ouster of Emefiele.
Financial inclusion and wealth management specialist Mr. Idakolo Gbolade responded to the development in a conversation on Monday, saying that if the claim is accurate, the DSS’s action is motivated by politics.
He explained that Emefiele’s purportedly anti-establishment recent monetary policies are what the secret agency is targeting him for.
“If the alleged arrest plot is confirmed, then it can be assumed to be politically motivated. I want to believe it is not valid.
“However, from the body language of the National Assembly and Political parties, it seems they are against the withdrawal limit. In the past few months, The CBN’s policies regarding Naira redesign, withdrawal limits, etc., have been seen targeting political moneybags that have stored up enough cash for the upcoming elections, which will significantly disrupt their plans. From an economic point of view, these policies are necessary for the economy and to safeguard our elections’ sanctity.
“If the claim by the group is confirmed, then the DSS will be acting on a script because most of the funds seized by the DSS might be affected by the CBN policy”, he stated.
Emefiele might have Magu’s treatment if Buhari remains Lukewarm – Prof Oyedokun
Also, an Accounting and Financial Development don at Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Godwin Oyedokun, said it is challenging to fight fraud without fraud fighting back.
He feared that what happened to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, and others might be the case for Emefiele if President Muhammadu Buhari remains lukewarm on the matter.
Oyedokun lamented that Nigerians are no longer concerned about the daily flaws of Buhari’s government in the last seven years.
“In Nigeria, it will be challenging to fight fraud without it fighting back. I am not exonerating the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele if he is guilty; However, the policy carried out by him has the approval of the President and by extension the Nigerian people.
“We need to be extremely careful in this country, especially how politics is played. The President should not be lukewarm on this matter; the same happened to the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, and the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Idris Ahmed.
“Nigerians are no longer concerned about the government’s daily flaws; their actions would reflect in the forthcoming election,” he added.
Shameful to see infighting among Buhari’s men – Adebayo
Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, expressed displeasure with the ongoing intra-Buhari team bickering.
“The most dangerous and ridiculous saga I have seen is how CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele is now part of the present political shenanigans instead of paying keen attention to monetary policies. Ongoing theatrical press conference by the Coalition smacks of infighting by the derailed team of the President.
“I have said it not with joy but most regretfully that President Muhammadu Buhari watches his presidency become a stage for paediatric hirelings and mischievous crowd renters who have no merit to be in public office. Now factions of overfed incompetents are dancing naked in the face of hungry Nigerians.
“Nigerians can now see in the open what we have always said that Nigerians are poor and insecure, not because our problems of hunger and insecurity are hard to solve but because there is no proper government focusing on the official agenda. Buhari runs a jungle of rival gangs after their own money”, he posted in his official Twitter handle on Monday.
When DAILY POST contacted CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Nwanisobi Osita to speak on the matter, he said the news came to him the way every Nigerian heard it in the media.
He said:-
“I heard it the way you heard it, and I am not saying the news is not true”.
He declined to make any additional comments on the subject.
Currently, 133 million people in Nigeria are living in multidimensional poverty, fighting against 21.47 percent inflation, a slowing GNP growth rate, and insecurity.
Analysts think that the recent development may make the situation worse.
