National Association of Seadogs, popularly called Pyrates’ Confraternity, says the membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, violates the CBN Act and threatens the credibility of the 2023 general elections.
The Pyrates’ Confraternity, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately relieve Emefiele of his position as CBN governor in the interest of the nation’s democracy.
Recall that APC Ward 6 Chairman in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Nduka Erikpume, had confirmed that Emefiele registered as a member of the APC in February 2021.
Emefiele, who has not denied his membership of the ruling APC, also attempted to contest the party’s presidential primaries, but later dropped his ambition.
But the Pyrates’ Confraternity in a statement by its Cap’n, Mr Abiola Owoaje, and titled: “Godwin Emefiels’s position untenable,” said although it recognised Emefiele’s constitutional rights to aspire to any political office on any political party’s platform, “it must amount to a serious breach that the head of Nigeria’s apex bank with the strategic responsibilities placed on his shoulder would be a card carrying member of a political party, and unabashedly wave the same at the collective faces of a bemused citizenry.”
The Pyrates’ Confraternity, while listing Sections 1 (3) and 9 in the CBN Act as part of provisions that confers independence on the bank and sets out code of conduct for its management team, said Emefiele’s involvement in partisan politics had violated the CBN Act with dire consequences for the economy.
It stated, “Mr Emefiele’s involvement in partisan politics as a card carrying member of APC, therefore, is a violation of the CBN Act. The CBN Governor’s political partisanship severely undermines the independence of the bank, erodes its neutrality and compromises its functions, some which may be against the interests of his political party. Emefiele’s membership of APC is an anathema; a blatant repudiation of his oath of office and harbours injurious consequences for Nigeria’s economic well being.
“For an economy that has been tottering for the past seven years, battered by failed monetary and fiscal policies, bogged down by unprecedented policy somersaults, and literally begging for unearned confidence from the International market, Emefiele’s membership of the ruling APC government further threatens the credibility of the CBN to make sound financial decision in national interest.”
NAS added that the CBN governor’s membership of the APC had put the strategic partnership between the Independent National Electoral Commission and the apex bank, which allows the latter to keep sensitive electoral materials in its custody, in jeopardy ahead of the 2023 general elections.
NAS further stated, “Nigeria’s electoral process is desperate for redemption in 2023, as INEC, the electoral umpire, has invested significant efforts in striving to convince Nigerians of its ability to conduct credible elections. INEC, and definitely Nigeria, cannot afford any development that taints the electoral process.
“Beyond doubt, Emefiele’s membership of APC, which has come to the fore, already puts a huge question mark on the integrity of the 2023 elections. His continued stay in office amounts to impunity taken too far. He is no longer fit to occupy the highly exalted position of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. It is time for President Muhammadu Buhari to ask him to go home. This will be a wise and patriotic action for the sake of Nigeria and its democracy.”
