Muhammadu Buhari Immediate former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has spoken on his decision to retain the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele despite the speculation that he ventured into politics which was against the statute of the Offices he held during his administration.
Recall that Emefiele was linked to several attempts to pick the presidential ticket of APC ahead of the 2023 presidential election, which led to many citizens calling for his removal by the former President for violating the rules and regulations that prohibit Central Bank of Nigeria Governor from taking part in party politics.
President Muhammadu Buhari stated that he ignored calls for Emefiele's removal from Office because Emefiele did not personally tell him he wanted to become President of Nigeria.
Speaking at the launching of a book titled "Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015 – 2023)" written by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, former President Muhammadu Buhari also defended the Naira Redesign Policy implemented by Emefiele which imposed severe hardships on the citizens. He said the policy was only antagonized by those who have too much money.
In chapter 12 under “Buhari, in his own words, on calls for ING, Emefiele, naira redesign, 2023 polls, others,” the former president stated: “The scarcity of money was not delíberatcly done to punish Nigerians. Democracy allows people to express their will, and we do not attempt to control them. People understood the implications of their choices, and we did not force them.
“My state, Katsína, showed the beauty of the whole system. In the presidential poll, APC lost. But they came back to win the governorship. Maybe they took these for granted earlier because it was my state, and they thought they would win easily. People do not like being taken for granted.
“I met Enefiele in office when I came, and unless there was firm evidence against him, it would be unfair, and an act of injustice to remove him, acting on hearsay.
“If you punish a man unjustly, it could dog his footsteps throughout life, so if you would punish, you must have evidence. And you should know that you won’t be there forever. You would leave one day.
“I’m very conscious about the morale of people who serve with me. I also expect whoever succeeds me to be fair to me. I have family, and friends, who will feel it. I’m very conscious of fairness.
“When he was linked with the campaign for the 2023 presidency, I did not ask him, because he told nobody he was getting involved. Otherwise, I would have removed him and told the nation why.
“There is no denying that the naira redesign policy gave us cleaner elections. It was people who had too much money that had problems with it.
“When it was said that the new notes were not available, over N260 míllíon was found with one bank chairman. Did I take on the Supreme Court on the issue? No, I could not have.
“Some APC governors went to court. I refuse to judge people by my standard, I am not a materíalistíc, but it will be too much to expect all Nígeríans to be the same way. It is not fair to condemn anybody, but it is up to them and their conscience.
“I want to continue to conduct myself with a clear conscience so that when I go to bed, I sleep off immediately.”
Category: World-News
Tag: Buhari Speaks On Overlooking Emefieles Presidential Ambition Naira Redesign
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Published 1/16/2024 11:00:04 PM