Is this story real?


On Sat, 23/5/09, newsletter@proshareng.com <newsletter@proshareng.com> wrote:


From: newsletter@proshareng.com <newsletter@proshareng.com>
Subject: Breaking News: Soludo removed, as Lamido takes over CBN
Date: Saturday, 23 May, 2009, 5:44 PM






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Peter OBIORA
Proshare NI
May 23, 2009 at 16:00 GMT


Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been removed from office as Governor. While Sanusi Lamido, the Managing Director (MD) of First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FBN) has been appointed to takeover as the new Governor of the CBN.


Proshare NI gathered that the Northern Oligarchy has put pressure on Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) to put somebody from the Northern as the Governor of CBN.


“The North have complained that for the past fifteen (15) years they have been denied the CBN Governor’s position, therefore they have put pressure on Yar’Adua to make replacements” a Source affirmed.


Following this development, Yar’Adua ordered that those heading Federal Government (FG) parastatals that have finished their tenure should go home.


Proshare NI gathered that Prof. Soludo has been given the marching orders to go home as he has finished his five (5) years term.


In its usual manner, Proshare NI sought the reaction of stakeholders on the issue, a Stakeholder name (withheld) affirmed that Soludo would have gone from office since February 2009, while another Stakeholder (name also withheld) affirmed that Soludo have written to leave office as the Governor of CBN on his own accord since February 2009.


Proshare NI in order to clarify the issue sought in a telephone chat the reaction of Festus Odoko, Head of Corporate Affairs of CBN; who could not clarify the issue.


“I don’t know why we Nigerians cannot use the English language very well, it is true that Soludo’s tenure has expired, we cannot say he has been removed. Maybe if the President has not yet renewed his tenure, another person maybe appointed to takeover his office, that does not mean that he has been removed” Odoko said.


Proshare NI would follow up the issue and bring its numerous readers recent developments on the removal of Prof. Soludo as the Governor of CBN.

As earlier reported, Prof. Soludo joined the FG in year 2003. Prior to his May 2004 appointment to the bank Chairmanship. He held the positions of Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission.[1]

In January 2008, in a speech to the Nigerian Economic Society, he predicted consolidation in the private banking industry, saying “By the end of 2008, there will be fewer banks than there are today. The restructuring of the banking industry has been attracting funds from local and foreign investors, which have increased banks' ability to lend to customers” he said.

Prof. Soludo hopes to see Nigeria become Africa's financial hub, and considers microfinance important to the FG’s economic policies.

It has been asserted that in April 2008, Soludo was accused of abuse of his position. However, there is no supporting evidence for this which is accessible via the internet.

This ought to be in the POLITICS section!
Meanwhile i doubt the authenticity of this draft.