The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has asked the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to either resign or disassociate himself from speculation about him contesting the 2023 presidency.
Although Emefiele has not publicly declared interest in the race, groups have been asking him to contest the 2023 presidential election.
However, HEDA in a letter gave Emefiele a 14-day ultimatum to resign from and pursue his Political ambition (if he is interested) or disassociate himself publicly from such speculations and stick to his job.
The letter signed by chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju, was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari and the president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.
HEDA acknowledged that Emefiele has a constitutional right to contest any election in Nigeria, but asked him to take a stand now than “keeping Nigeria at sea”.
Suraju said, “It has been widely published in the media that the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is planning to contest in the 2023 general election to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a group by the name: The Green Alliance recently addressed the press on the subject matter of Emefiele for President.
“By virtue of being the Governor of the apex bank in Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is not eligible to contest for any election in Nigeria or participate in politics. By the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, he is statutorily barred from participating in politics or engaging in any other business for that matter.
“Section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act provide thus: “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 except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the Board and which do not conflict with or detract from their full time duties.”
Suraju maintained that HEDA being the leading Anti-Corruption civil society organization in Nigeria and Non-partisan Human Rights and Development league with the mandate to protect and promote universally recognised human rights, public accountability, transparency and environmental justice in Nigeria and Africa, in accordance with International best standards, would continue to work assiduously to keep to its mandate.
He advised the CBN Governor to either come out publicly and dissociate himself from the campaign, saying Emefiele cannot pursue political ambition while in office.
The group stated that if he insisted on contesting, he should adhere to the CBN Act and resign honourably within the next 14 days from the date of receipt of the letter, saying, “We trust that you shall fully comply with the law and do what is best for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
