December 30, (THEWILL) – Middlebelt Youths have described a failed attempt by the Department of Security Services (DSS), to charge Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, with terrorism financing, as a bad way to reward his good works.
The group, in a statement by its leader, Comrade Meliga, said the institution’s interventions in several sectors saved the Nigerian economy in the last six years.
According to the Youths, Emefiele’s Interventions revolutionised the North, especially the agricultural sector.
While the CBN was not directly involved in the country’s security activities, the Youths said the apex bank, under Emiefiele, has been at the forefront of the significant amount of resources so far expended to push back violent extremism and other forms of criminalities in Nigeria.
Citing recent policies of Naira redesign and cash withdrawal limit as another innovative way to stem kidnapping and banditry, the group noted that despite these efforts, the DSS, “an agency created to protect the interest of the citizens is rather framing hardworking citizens for terrorism and letting the real terrorists walk freely.
“What DSS recently planned to do to the CBN Governor is shameful. Mr Emefiele, a man of many Interventions, singled out the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), which revolutionised agricultural practice in the country. Under the ABP, small-holder farmers, who hitherto could not approach commercial banks for loans, now readily receive facilities in the forms of inputs like seedlings, fertiliser and herbicides.
“Those small-holder farmers can now cultivate and produce enough for their families and sell produce as loan repayment with ease, thereby generating employment, improving living standards and creating wealth simultaneously. Emefiele should be lauded and awarded for his many good deeds not haunted by evil politicians.”
Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Emefiele, over a court judgement restraining the DSS, CBN, Police, as well as other security agencies, to arrest, charge or further intimidate the apex bank governor, with alleged terrorism financing.
THEWILL reports that Justice M.A. Hassan, in a judgement Thursday, described the plot by the DSS to arrest Emefiele of terrorism as oppressive, baseless, fabricated and unacceptable.
The group, while describing the judgement as a victory for Democracy and rule of law, however, called on President Buhari to sack the Director-General of the DSS, over the failed plot to frame up Emefiele for terrorism.
In a press statement signed by Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, the group said the DSS should be ashamed for trying to arrest Emefiele over policies aimed at fighting “banditry and kidnapping for ransom industry, vote buying, controlling the amount of money in circulation, and addressing issues of corruption and hoarding of Naira notes by individuals.”
The statement read: “What DSS recently planned to do to the CBN Governor is the reason why Nigerians are being killed daily, yet, our intelligence team is unable to get timely information to avert the same.
“Most of them are now in bed with politicians and available for use to tackle their opponents. We are glad for the Intervention of various groups both home and abroad, if not, these heartless Politicians would have resorted to using security as a convenient gateway to remove Emefiele from office and possibly pave the way for someone they can control to succeed him.
“While we urge the judiciary to remain steadfast in defending the spirit and letter of our constitution, as they are the last hope of the common man, We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently sack the DG of DSS to pave the way for more energetic Nigerians, to help fight against insecurity.”
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