Presidential ambition: HEDA issues 14-day ultimatum to Emefiele to resign

Following the speculated presidential ambition of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to run for the presidency in 2023, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has issued a 14-day ultimatum to him to resign from his position as the CBN Governor.

and pursue his political ambition (if he is interested) or disassociate himself Publicly from such speculations and stick to his job.

HEDA call for the resignation of Emefiele as the CBN Governors in a letter written and forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, and Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

The letter was written by the chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju.

Suraju, who acknowledged that Emefiele has a constitutional right to contest for any election in Nigeria, including that of president, urged him to “take a stand now than keeping Nigeria at sea”.

He stated: “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.

READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: My fate in the hands of God – Emefiele

“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 further enjoined the CBN Governor to “either come out publicly and dissociate himself from the campaign or pursuit of his ambition of contesting for any election while in office and if he insists 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.”

“We trust that you shall fully comply with the law and do what is best for the Federal Republic of  Nigeria,” added.

TheStar