Emefiele: Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Ask Buhari To Wake Up

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

Leaders of Southern and Middle Belt regions of the country, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to put his house in order as it affects the terrorism sponsorship allegation against the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and save the country from repeated, unwarranted national embarrassment.

The leaders, under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the call became necessary following the recent attempt by the Department of State Services (DSS) to obtain an order of the Court to arrest and detain Emefiele.

The statement was signed by the SMBLF leader and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, president of Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Pogu Bitrus and secretary-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay.

It reads in part: “The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put his house in order and save the country from repeated, unwarranted national embarrassments.

“This call became necessary following the reported recent, disgraceful, attempt by the Department of State Services (DSS) to surreptitiously obtain an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, to arrest and detain the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

“The action of the Department of State Services is not only a travesty of the nation’s judiciary, but also a grave disservice to the Nigerian state, and a mortification of the nation’s image.

“It is unthinkable that the DSS would recklessly and carelessly accuse Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, of financing terrorism and involvement in economic crimes of national security dimension. This is not only shameful but a disgrace to the Buhari administration and the nation. And capable of unsettling the socioeconomic tractions of the country.

“What is the evidence that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is involved in terrorism financing? If the allegations against the CBN governor are genuine, why didn’t the DSS present its findings to the president for consideration and necessary action?

“It is common knowledge that the  Emefiele, has been carrying out Mr. president’s directives and instructions religiously. We wonder whether it is those instructions given to him by the president, which he carries out that make him to be a terrorism sponsor? Or there are personal actions and activities he has carried out without the president’s approval and instruction?

“The CBN governor has been doing everything to salvage the nation’s economy with several intervention schemes in agriculture and SMEs, to ensure that individuals, households and businesses across all sectors of the economy receive support to sustain their operations and livelihoods, especially during COVID and even in post-COVID era.”