Coalition of about 35 Civil Society Groups have demanded for resignation of Mr Godwin Emefiele from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) saying under his leadership, poverty and starvation has taken over the land.
This is even as Arewa Youths Assembly has called for his resignation on Wednesday.
The Coalition of Civil Society groups operating under the aegis of ‘The Nigeria Action Group’ in statement signed by Comrade Isah Abubakar and seven other group leaders from the six geopolitical zones noted that they were joining other groups to lend their voices as a result of economic calamities that has forced the nation on its knees.
They said it would serve the nation better for the CBN governor to quit to avoid total collapse of the economy.
The statement read:. “This call became necessary following the extensive review of the the tenure of the Mr Godwin as the head of our nation’s Apex Bank, which we have come to the sad conclusion that he should humbly step aside and allow a more competent person to step in, to save our country from total collapse.
“We understand that it will be difficult for him and his hangers on to reason with us, but we wish to beg them to put on their garment of patriotism and save our country.
“If fellow Nigerians have not forgotten:
It was during the formative stage of the first tenure of Mr Godwin that monies meant for the procurement of arms to fight Boko Haram terrorists and budding bandits in other parts of the country were converted to Campaign funds and some given to “prayer warriors.
“Many prominent Nigerians are facing trials for benefitting from that bazaar, we wonder why Mr Emefiele is still enjoying total freedom till date?
“When Mr Adedoyin Salami, a member of the Country’s monetary policy in 2017 cautioned the CBN Governor against the excessive funding of the Federal Government which was twenty fold higher than approved threshhold, he refused to take correction.
“Many sound economists described the Mr Emefiele’s Monetary Policy as “reckless and illegal” which will set the Nigeria economy for a “Big Fall”. Indeed! The Big Fall is here, $1 is currently equivalent to over $545.
“The Group noted that the CBN acted in error and guided by Copy and Paste policy when its included food stuff in import prohibition lists despite having the fore knowledge that we largely depend of subsistence farming which was under serious threat by bandits, terrorists and farmers/herders crisis in various part of the country.
“Currently, Nigerians have been thrown to a state of acute hunger, which is contributing to the rising insecurity in the country.
“The Group further stressed that the CBN under the watch of its incumbent Governor claimed to have reeled out several interventions running into Trillions of Naira whose impact can only be felt on papers not in real life. Many of the failed and corruption challenged programs of the CBN is not limited to Anchor-Borrowers program; AGSMEIS etc
“Just recently, United Arab Emirates government arrested, convicted and blacklisted some Bureau de Change Operators of Nigerian Origin who have been fingered in financing terrorism globally.
“The monies have been passing through the ineffective eyes of the CBN unnoticed into the hands of terrorists. It took the intervention of foreign government to block such channel, as the CBN under Mr Godwin is more concerned with frivolities rather than general well-being of the country.
“It is on the strength of the above that the coalition wish to call on the Central Bank Governor of Nigeria to resign with immediate effect to allow independent and hitch free probe of his tenure.
“Federal Government to delist Rice and some food materials from import prohibition items. This will help to reduce the prices of food that is beyond the reach of common Nigerians.
“Anti-graft agencies to arrest Mr Emefiele with immediate to ascertain the level of his involvement in the arms procurement scandal and other programs that failed under his watch due to growing corruption.”
