By Dipo Olowookere
President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to immediately remove Mr Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) if he fails to vacant his position with immediate effect in order to fulfil his political ambition.
Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, in a statement on Friday, disclosed that Mr Emefiele cannot remain in office and participate in the 2023 general elections.
Yesterday, it was reported that three groups had purchased the presidential nomination form of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the CBN chief for N100 million.
This action sparked reactions from Nigerians, including the Ondo Governor, who said that though Mr Emefiele has the constitutional right to contest for the presidency, he cannot achieve such ambition as the incumbent CBN governor.
“It is incontrovertible that Mr Emefiele enjoys a constitutionally protected right to belong to any group or association and participate fully, just as any Nigerian.
“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,” Mr Akeredolu said in the statement.
According to him, “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.”
The Ondo Governor, who described the action as “a joke taken too far,” urged “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,” he declared.
Also reacting, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on Mr Buhari to sack the apex bank chief over his alleged involvement in partisan politics.
The group in a statement yesterday said, “We urge President Buhari to exercise his power under section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act to immediately remove the CBN governor Mr Godwin Emefiele over his engagement in partisan politics, contrary to section 9 of the CBN.”
According to Section 9 of the CBN Act, “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….”
The organisation said, “Engaging in politics will conflict with/detract [him] from his full-time duties,” threatening to drag the federal government to court “if the unlawful plan is never implemented.”
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya