The Central Bank of Nigeria has denied that its Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has been fired, calling the allegation “false.”
On Wednesday morning, it was reported that Nigeria’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had fired Emefiele for his presidential ambitions.
The PUNCH had previously requested clarity from CBN spokesman Mr Osita Nwanisiobi, but had received no response.
Nwanisiobi, however, is quoted in multiple outlets as refuting the trending claim, adding, “I heard it just the way you got it too.” It’s a rumor, as far as I’m concerned. There’s no bag that I’m aware of.“
On May 9, the PUNCH reported that Emefiele has gone to a Federal High Court in Abuja to seek a constitutional interpretation on his refusal to quit while pursuing his presidential ambitions.
Emefiele is also a member of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State’s Ika South Local Government Area.
Mr Nduka Erikpume, Chairman of Ward 6 in Delta State’s Ika South Local Government Area, told one of our journalists over the phone that the CBN governor had registered as an APC member.
“Yes, he has registered from February 2021,” Erikpume stated that when asked if Emefiele had joined the APC. He is a member of our organization.”
Emefiele’s political activity has been met with condemnation, with experts warning that it might jeopardize the country’s financial system’s integrity.
Prof Jonathan Aremu, a former Assistant Director at the CBN, has also stated that the governor’s political activity could jeopardize the central bank’s credibility.
Aremu said, “I am not going to quote the specifics of the CBN Act, but I will give you an objective view of this. Because of the special importance of the central bank, I don’t think it is right for the CBN governor to be political. It is important to have a monetary policy that is relatively seen to be objective because governments come and go.
“If you want to go into politics, for the relative independence of the CBN, then you have to leave the position. When people lose confidence in issues of money, it tends to be a serious issue. In some countries, central bank governors disagree with presidents and resign.”