Government officials and the Department of State Services, DSS, have been warned by economists to avoid further destabilizing Nigeria’s economy as a result of alleged terrorist accusations made against Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
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 the 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.
Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesman, stated in a statement to DAILY POST. “While professionally discharging its mandate, the DSS pledges to remain focused and unbiased. It will not, by any means, succumb to propaganda, intimidation, and the desperation of hirelings to undermine it. It will also not give room to the use of falsehood and deceit to misdirect public understanding and perceptions of issues of national importance”
The DSS Director General, Mr. Yusuf Bichi, was demanded to be fired by a group of demonstrators who had taken to the streets of Abuja with banners.
Idakolo: DSS is following a script when it comes to removing Emefiele.
A specialist in financial inclusion and wealth management, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, responded to the news in a conversation on Monday. He claimed that if the claim is accurate, the DSS’s action is motivated by politics.
He clarified that Emefiele’s purportedly anti-establishment recent monetary policies are the reason the secret agency is operating as per a script to persecute him.
“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
It is difficult to combat fraud without the fraud striking back, according to Prof. Godwin Oyedokun, a professor of accounting and financial development at Lead City University in Ibadan.
If President Muhammadu Buhari continues to be uncommitted on the issue, he worries that Emefiele may suffer the same fate as previous EFCC Chairman Mr. Ibrahim Magu and others.
Oyedokun bemoaned the fact that the daily failings of Buhari’s administration over the past seven years are no longer of concern to Nigerians.
“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 nominee, expressed displeasure with the ongoing intra-Buhari team conflict.
“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 tweeted using his official Twitter account.
Nwanisobi Osita, the CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, responded when DAILY POST called him for comment, saying that he received the news the same way that other Nigerians had—through 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.
