Reps reconvene over Emefiele’s presidential aspiration, aviation crisis

The House of Representatives is reconvening for an emergency plenary session on Monday to deliberate on the presidential ambition of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and the crisis in the aviation sector, Daily Trust on Sunday has gathered.   Clerk of the House, Dr Yahaya Danzariya, had in statement announced that […]

The House of Representatives is reconvening for an emergency plenary session on Monday to deliberate on the presidential ambition of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and the crisis in the aviation sector, Daily Trust on Sunday has gathered.  

Clerk of the House, Dr Yahaya Danzariya, had in statement announced that the House will be holding an emergency plenary session by 2pm.  

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“It is particularly intended to discuss critical issues of national importance. The House regrets any inconvenience this short notice would have caused”, the statement said.  

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that, the House had earlier adjourned sitting till Tuesday, May 24.  

But findings by Daily Trust on Sunday revealed that the House will be holding the emergency to look at the two burning issues.

There has been heated reactions to purchase of presidential nomination forms for the apex bank chief, with lawyers and other stakeholders calling for his resignation. 

Sources told our correspondent  that Emefiele’s men were frantically making moves to reach out to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the issue

Emefiele, on Saturday, said he had not taken a decision on the 2023 presidency.  

The governor of the apex bank has been under intense pressure to resign since some groups picked the expression and nomination forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on his behalf on Friday.  

A coalition comprising the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Emefiele Support Group and Friends of Godwin, on Friday obtained the nomination and expression of interest forms for him.

But in a series of tweets, Emefiele thanked those who bought the forms for him, saying if he decides to contest, he would use his personal resources to procure the forms. He added that he would take a decision in the days ahead. 

“I am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the office of president in the 2023 general elections. I have not come to that decision. I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds and offering me presidential nomination forms: I thank them most profusely. 

“However, should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard-earned savings from over 35 years of banking leadership to buy my own nomination forms without proxies, in an open and transparent manner in full compliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

“And should I not run for elective office, I will continue to serve and sacrifice for the good people of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is a serious decision that requires God’s divine intervention. In the next few days, the Almighty will so direct,” he tweeted. 

But a former director in the CBN, Olorunfunmi Basorun, called on Emefiele to resign over his links to the 2023 presidential election. 

Basorun said if the apex bank’s governor failed to resign, the Senate should immediately reconvene and use a two-third majority to remove him. 

On his part, a university don and former commissioner for finance in Imo State, Professor Uche Uwaleke, urged Emefiele to eschew partisan politics and concentrate on CBN reforms.

PDP seeks Emefiele’s arrest, prosecution

Meanwhile, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the arrest and prosecution of the CBN governor for his involvement in political activities ahead of the 2023 general elections.   

Addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters, the national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said the purchase of the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms for Emefiele brought to a head, his involvement in political activities, saying he cannot continue in office any longer. 

 

From Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos), Itodo Daniel Sule, Baba Martins & Chris Agabi (Abuja)