May 07, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the arrest of Godwin Emefiele, over the purchase of N100 million Presidential Form, while still enjoying the paraphernalia of the office of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The call followed reports that some groups bought Emefiele the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the 2023 election.
The CBN governor, however, had earlier rejected the APC Presidential Form procured for him by the Rice farmers.
THEWILL reports that Emefiele, in a series of tweets on Saturday, in his verified twitter handle, thanked those who bought the forms for him, saying if he decides to contest, he would use his personal resources to procure the forms.
“I am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the Office of President in the 2023 general elections: I have not come to that decision. I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds and offering me Presidential Nomination Forms: I thank them most profusely”, his tweets partly read.
But in its reaction to the CBN governor’s tweets, the PDP said it was an afterthought for Emefiele to deny having interest in contesting the 2023 election.
Addressing newsmen on Saturday in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba said, “our party stands with Nigerians in demanding the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of Mr Emefiele by security and anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial malfeasance and abuse of office in the CBN under his watch.
“As Nigerians we are determined to confront this evil. We wish Mr Emefiele well in his new found, but ill-fated political vocation, but we demand that he must be brought to account for the activities that he undertook, supervised and superintended over the years, that he has been at the helm of affairs at the CBN and for which our economy is in comatose.”
The PDP called on all Nigerians; the Civil Society, Students, Organised Labour, the Media and all lovers of good governance to rise up as the party takes drastic actions in leading the charge to defend the integrity of the CBN, Rule of Law and ensure that those who brought the economy to its knees face the wrath of the law.
The party said that Emefiele’s involvement in politics without resigning as CBN Governor amounts to gross misconduct in contravention of Section 11 2 (2)(c) of the CBN Act.
“Now that Mr Emefiele has joined politics and reportedly obtained the N100 million Presidential aspirant form from the APC, he cannot continue to resume at the CBN which is the commonwealth of our nation”, the party said.
The PDP warned that his continued as CBN Governor is a danger to the reputation of the CBN, adding that it would destroy investor’s confidence.
“By this, Mr Emefiele has become a clear and present danger to the health, integrity and reputation of the CBN and our nation’s financial sector. His continued stay as CBN Governor will further destroy investors’ confidence in the integrity of our nation’s financial regulatory Institution.
“Mr Emefiele’s involvement in partisan politics while still holding office as CBN Governor underpins the impunity, lawlessness and recklessness of the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration. It further confirms that the CBN under Emefiele has all along been the finance department of the APC.
“It is now evident that the summersault of the economy under Mr Emefiele as CBN Governor has been influenced by a personal partisan interest for which the CBN under his watch allegedly allowed multiple leakages in our financial regulations through discriminatory exchange rate policies and nebulous subsidies to funnel billons of naira to political lackies to fund a presidential ambition.
“This also explains why under Emefiele, the CBN which is supposed to be the bankers’ bank continues to engage in fraudulent retail banking services under ill-defined economic intervention programmes to plunder the treasury.
“The tsunamic macroeconomic and fiscal policies of the CBN under Emefiele brought untold hardship to the productive and service sectors of our nation’s economy with consequential negative effect on the lives of our citizens.
“It is provocative that instead of being remorseful, Mr Emefiele is even insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians by seeking the office of the President while still holding office as CBN Governor”, the party said.
The PDP pointed to reports in the public space of how Emefiele’s agents through corrupt practices, including manipulation of exchange rate, allegedly amassed sum close to $1 billion dollar, which is already being deployed by the purchase of hundreds of Emefiele branded campaign vehicles in the colours of the APC in furtherance of a lavish Presidential campaign.
“The direct consequences of such atrocious regime in the CBN under Emefiele is the collapse of our naira from N197 to N600 to a dollar, the crippling of our productive sector, multiple economic recession, increased poverty, inflation and unemployment rates, high costs of living and excruciating hardship to our citizens.
“It is indeed saddening that President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised zero tolerance for corruption will enable, encourage and condone such an atrocious regime in the CBN where our economy is open to fraudulent pillaging to promote a political ambition”, the party lamented.
Quoting some relevant sections in the CBN Act that forbid the CBN Governor and his Deputies, the party said, “we drew the attention of Nigerians to the provisions of the CBN Act 2007 and particularly referenced Section 9 which provides that ‘the Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the bank and while holding office, shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation, whether remunerated or not…’
“This provision is clear in demanding that 100 percent of the time and expertise of the CBN Governor and Deputy Governors shall be dedicated to the service of the CBN. This is because the CBN is critical to the integrity and stability of our economy.
“Furthermore, Section 030422 of the Public Service Rule states that no public officer shall (a) ‘hold any office, paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary, in any political organisation’, (b) offer himself/herself or nominate anyone else as a candidate for any elective public office…’, (c) ‘indicate publicly his support of or opposition to any party, candidate or policy and (d) ‘engage in canvassing in support of political candidates’ unless such officer resigns his appointment.
“Importantly, Section 030502 (g) of the Rule lists ‘engaging in partisan political activities’ as SERIOUS ACT OF MISCONDUCT.”
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