Bullion van politicians trying to discredit Emefiele, says PDP campaign

The presidential campaign council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says some politicians are behind the current travails of Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

BACKGROUND

On Monday, TheCable reported that a federal high court sitting in Abuja declined an application by the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest and detain Emefiele.

The court reportedly told DSS that such an application should have been accompanied by presidential approval because of the grave implications for the Nigerian economy if the CBN governor is detained.

The development comes amid speculations that the bid to arrest Emefiele might be political, considering the likely impact of the recent naira redesign and new cash withdrawal policy.

Also, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) had said there is a plot to oust Emefiele from office on trumped-up terrorism charges.

‘POLITICIANS WHO WANT TO BUY VOTES BEHIND EMEFIELE’S TRAVAILS’

In a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP campaign council spokesperson, the party said those who are “after” Emefiele should be careful of its implications on the country’s economy.

“This is especially on the backdrop of apprehensions that inordinately ambitious politicians that run activities with bullion vans and raw cash are out to destroy the nation’s financial institutions, particularly, the CBN, for their selfish political interests,” the statement reads.

“It is instructive to caution that the stability of the CBN as Nigeria’s apex financial institution is critical to the economic and social health of our nation and must not fall prey to corrupt politicians who are out to annex and control our national patrimony as well as resources for their personal ambitions.

“Nigerians know the politicians who are desperate for political office as their “turn”, who see our nation and her citizens as an estate for sale, and who believe that their vacuity, many gaffes, manifest incompetence, incapacity for leadership and allegations of smelly past can be perfumed through the dispensing of corruptly acquired cash.

“It is therefore important that those who are after the CBN and her Governor should be careful not to discredit the institution in the process as the consequential effect of such will be disastrous on our already ailing economy.”