Akeredolu asks Godwin Emefiele to resign as CBN Governor over presidential bid
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has called for the immediate resignation of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele over his Presidential ambition.
Recall that Emefiele, on Friday reportedly picked the All Progressives Congress N100million presidential nomination and expression of interest form.
Godwin Emefiele was first appointed the CBN Governor in 2014 and has since remained at the apex bank through a second term given him by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
But, Governor Akeredolu in a swift reaction to the entry of the CBN Governor into the Presidential race said Emefiele cannot combine partisan politics with the very delicate assignment of his office.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said it is incontrovertible that Emefiele enjoys a constitutionally protected right to belong to any group or association and participate fully, just as any Nigerian.
He said, “It is, however, difficult to imagine that a person who occupies the exalted and sensitive office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be this brazen in actualizing his ambition.”
Akeredolu said should Emefiele refuse to quit, it becomes incumbent on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to remove him forthwith.
He said, “There is no gain asserting the obvious. The combined effect of the Public Service Rules, CBN Act and the 1999 Constitution, as amended, exposes not only the oddity inherent in this brash exercise of presumed right to associate. It also confirms the illegality of the act should he proceed to submit the forms while occupying the seat as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Consequently, we admonish Mr Emefiele to leave the office, immediately, for him to pursue his interest. He cannot combine partisan politics with the very delicate assignment of his office. Should he refuse to quit, it becomes incumbent on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to remove him forthwith. This is a joke taken too far.”
