This article summerizes what many of us know, and have been saying on this topic from day one. Enjoy!

http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

[size=18pt]Whither Is Lamido Sanusi Leading Nigeria? (2[/size])

What or who exactly is Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria?
Peter P. EKEH, professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, is obviously not enamoured of the CBN boss.

The information we have on Sanusi’s preparation for his present position is sparse and unpublicized. We read that he did his undergraduate degree in Economics at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1981. We do not know in what area s of economics he specialized. It is traditional at that University to write a Research Essay in the final year. It would be important to know on what topic Lamido Sanusi wrote his essay. It is also good information to know what class of degree he earned to enable him to graduate from that University. The publicity piece on Sanusi on the Web site of Central Bank of Nigeria tells us that Sanusi took M. Sc. (Economics) courses, apparently without taking the degree at the end, although he is said to have obtained a distinction in Monetary Policy. Did he abandon the M.Sc. project? We are told that Sanusi returned briefly to teach at Ahmadu Bello University.

What subjects did he teach? These are elementary facts that should be available from a full curriculum vitae of the Chief Economist of the Federation. They are the sort of questions that any interviewing body would demand from any young academic who applies for the position of Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in any of our universities. In addition, we may demand to know from Nigeria’s Chief Economist whether he took any professional examinations in banking while he worked at ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers) and United Bank for Africa before he became the CEO of First Bank of Nigeria. Finally, it will be beneficial for our judgment of the qualifications of our national Chief Economist to gain information on whether his studies in Islamic Law at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, in the hiatus between his years at ICON Limited and UBA, were related to his banking profession. The Central Bank Web site informs us that Sanusi bagged a First Class degree in his Islamic Studies in the Sudan. These are not over-bearing or over-probing questions. We would know about such background of the Governors of the Central Banks of any other African countries from their curriculum vitae.

Perhaps more important is Sanusi’s publication record. Fortunately, in modern times several vehicles exist for accessing the records of anyone who has engaged in academic or professional publishing. For this exercise I have employed the liberal vehicle of Harzing’s Publish or Perish. The result for Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is distressing. He has ten papers listed. They come from such newspaper-grade media sources as www.gamji.com and Daily Trust. All of them are about Sharia, Islamic Law and women. None of them is about economics or banking. The Web site of Central Bank of Nigeria boasts that Sanusi has publications in learned journals, but none is listed. They surely do not appear in the public record.

What is compelling about Sanusi’s public record is that a number of things stand out when his publications are compared to those of other Governors of Central Banks in comparable African nations – using the same vehicle of Harzing’s Publish or Perish. With a record of forty-two publications listed, almost all of them focused on economic and monetary matters of Kenya, Professor Njuguna Ndung’u must be adjudged to be a formidable Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya. Also revealing is the publication record of the Governor of Ghana’s Central Bank. Since his doctoral thesis on A Macroeconometric Analysis of Export Instability in Economic Growth for the University of Pennsylvania in 1972, Paul Acquah has engaged in serious academic and professional discussions of macroeconomic issues for Ghana and other African nations (e.g., Zaire) as well as for the whole continent in published media. Ms Gill Marcus of South African Reserve Bank is formidable from several perspectives, including an impressive record of publications. Finally, Sudan’s Central Bank’s Governor, Dr. Sabir Mohamed Hassan, has an impressive record of published engagement with an analysis of his country’s economy.

Two features separate Lamido Sanusi’s published works from those of these other Governors of Central Banks of comparable African nations. First, they are not devoted to politics and religion – subjects to which Sanusi appears wholly committed, to the apparent exclusion of economic analysis. Second, Sanusi shows no interest whatsoever in economic and banking analysis, not even of risk-management, in his published records. On the other hand, according to their published public records, Africa’s other Governors of Central Banks are substantially devoted to the academic and professional analyses of the economic circumstances of their nations. It should be clear to Nigerians that President Umaru Yar’ Adua could not have chosen Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of his accomplishments in the understanding of Nigerian and African economic issues. Nor did the Senate that confirmed him so readily bother to ask pertinent questions with respect to his relative qualifications in the context of African economic circumstances.

Lamido Sanusi’s Temperament

Even if potential candidates were well qualified in professional and macroeconomic matters, those examining them for the enormous office of Governor of Central Bank are expected to weigh the candidates’ temperament along with how well they will relate to significant portions of the nation. Lamido Sanusi probably tells the truth, as he sees it, without fear or favour. In other words, he sees himself as a gadfly in public discourse. In doing so, he offends significant constituencies. Should he therefore expect to hold an office that is owned by the entire country?

Dr. Frederick Fasehun’s recent statement on the appointment of Lamido Sanusi reveals major flaws that would in ordinary circumstances disqualify other Nigerians from holding this high office. It is enough to cite Fasehun’s reactions to Sanusi’s derisive characterization of various sections of the country. Fasehun writes:

Sanusi has remained unapologetic and unrepentant of his ethnic chauvinism. In the past, he has said of the Igbos in a paper, “Issues in Restructuring of Corporate Nigeria,” that: “The Igbos themselves must acknowledge that they have a large part of the blame for shattering the unity of this country.”

Having said that this nation must realise that Igbos have more than paid for their foolishness, he said in the same piece: “The Yorubas: the greatest obstacles to nation-building, are the Yoruba Bourgeoisie, I say this also to underscore my point that until they change in this attitude, no conference can solve the problems of Nigeria. The country cannot move forward if the leadership of one of the largest ethnic groups continues to operate, not like statesmen, but like common area boys.”

And on Afenifere he declared: “A Syllabus of Errors …  the problems of this country have a lot to do with the shift in power away from the Fulani to individuals like Babangida and Abacha, products of lower cultures. The Fulani of the North, proud of the history of the establishment in Nigeria - Ahmadu Bello, Murtala Mohammed, Aminu Kano, Shehu Yar’Adua, Shehu Shagari, Jibril Aminu. They are sad that other Nigerians do not know the difference in ethnic background between, say, Murtala Mohammed [Fulani] and Ibrahim Babangida [Gwari].”

Sanusi has made many other fetid pronouncements about various ethnic groups other than those catalogued by Dr. Fasehun above. In a dominant group like the Fulani, one is likely to encounter talkative and boastful members of a self-proclaimed aristocracy. But one would not expect one of those loquacious boast-masters to be the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The same reservoir of ill-temperament that supplies such an abundance of insults on other people has empowered the impulsive behavior of our new Governor in his short service as the Chief Economist of the Federation. Central Bank Governors in most other nations -- at least those who are professionally competent - would take at least six to twelve months to study the complex tasks in their new responsibilities. But, presuming that he understood all the compound economic problems in the nation’s banking system, Sanusi rushed into his new job with ready-made solutions. The result is the mess in which we now find ourselves.


•To be concluded on Monday

paddy_lo:

Its Pathetic. . . . How did this guy get this job in the first place?

This is the main problem with Nigeria

It's as if the position of chief of surgery becomes open, and some how a barely educated herbalist fills the post, and to compensate for his acute deficiencies, he takes routine road shows on TV and to the market places to tell people how lucky they have been to have him as their chief, and to further make his point he begins a series public campaign against the former chief, and other surgeons, most of whom are far more technically competent than himself.

I'm shocked to know that Sanusi couldn't even show that he is a fellow of basic professional organizations for bankers and economists.

So, while governors of other countries' Central banks have a demonstrable academic record by publishing articles on the subject in World reputable journals: Economic Theory, American Economic Review, Journal of Economic Theory, etc; our own chief economist or economic messiah can only boast of publishing articles in Islamic law and Islamic Women in www.gamji.com, and DailyTrust.

The question is, can he even read and understand economics related journal articles
It is obvious he can't write one. However, he can ramble on and on about what he sees and understands as the ills of our broader economy. The fact that he might not even understand the subject in question(advanced economic theory) should give everybody in Nigeria some sleepless nights.

^^^^^^
Yar'dua obviously forgot that banking is a technical job, and political considerations ought not to outweigh proper academic qualifications.
The more Sanusi speaks, the more he exposes his fundamental and basic ignorance about economic, banking, and finance.
Luckily for those of us who want him fired, he can't keep quite. If he did, he might have fooled many people. So let him sing and ramble on, and on.

When the dust on yar'adua death cools down, we would be able to do a detailed appraisal on his short tenure.
One area I will make objections is on the rationale of his appointments.

This guy might have as well engaged the services of an ex-service man to run the CBN.
Yar'adua really undid Nigeria and set a lot of bad precedences.

It explains everything we've been saying about this guy! He rose to his position in the banking industry by virtue of his royal lineage.
I have always wondered why Sanusi never deemed it necessary throughout his career as a banker to develop himself further.

The guy is a misfit for the position he sits upon. He would definitely be better off as an EFCC Chairman or better still he should be considered as a Chairman off the Pilgrims Board where he can make adequate use of his Sudanese degree in Islamic studies.

^^^
I would suggest grand khadi of the sharia court and islamic banking system.

this is very serious issue here

What Sanusi needs is credible, competent and trustworthy advisers who would advise him accordingly in areas where he is lacking. He sure does have the balls needed to get things done!

^^^
We need more than balls to run the office of CBN governor, we also need brains.

naijaking1:

^^^
We need more than balls to run the office of CBN governor, we also need brains.

I have already acknowledged that with the need to have advisers where he is lacking - he is a bit overzealous quite alright, but does not necessarily need a PhD etc to be a CBN gov. People without university degrees have been Presidents and Prime Ministers the world over (a bigger challenge than being a central bank gov.) and have performed well. He has had some grounding in banking and rose to become the CEO of First Bank. He was once a GM in UBA with Tony Elumelu as CEO who would have gotten rid of him if he thought he was incompetent. With the right combination of good management and communication skills coupled with 'PhD' advisers he should be alright.

'Balls' are what is lacking to a large extent in Nigeria, we have had people with a long list of qualifications in various positions in Nigeria but have lacked the 'balls' to push policies through or infact did not have any ideas at all!

paddy_lo:

balls like idi amin dada of uganda?. . .we dont need another moronic brainless person that blusters about all day
we need ppl that have a brain. . .or at least half a brain in Nigerias case

That is why we celebrate nonentities like buhari in Nigeria. . . .a common illiterate that doesnt respect the laws of the land

Very funny . But are you saying someone that was a GM at UBA under Tony Elumelu is brainless?? An ED at First Bank?? And eventually CEO?? The guy was monstrously angry at the 'deposit looters' and understandably so, I don't agree with his methods and follow-on, but CBN as an institution has the capability within to chart a way forward if he chooses not to look outside. What he needs to do is to identify those within the CBN who can help him ring the changes in a non-abrasive manner.

ADint:

Very funny . But are you saying someone that was a GM at UBA under Tony Elumelu is brainless?? An ED at First Bank?? And eventually CEO?? The guy was monstrously angry at the 'deposit looters' and understandably so, I don't agree with his methods and follow-on, but CBN as an institution has the capability within to chart a way forward if he chooses not to look outside. What he needs to do is to identify those within the CBN who can help him ring the changes in a non-abrasive manner.

Why dint they offer Elumelu the position.

balls like idi amin dada of uganda?. . .we dont need another moronic brainless person that blusters about all day
we need ppl that have a brain. . .or at least half a brain in Nigerias case

That is why we celebrate nonentities like buhari in Nigeria. . . .a common illiterate that doesnt respect the laws of the land

and according to this dude, SLS is brainless, a common illiterate

na wa for this NL

^^^^

es an aboki na - and a fulani for that matter - we will soon see naijking start threads on sanusi's secret past as a cattle herder - with pictures

RoadStar:

Why dint they offer Elumelu the position.

paddy_lo:

good question. . .perhaps he didnt have the right fulani connections?

^^ , not really valid questions for the topic at hand.

Is Sanusi brainless? - NO! Did he goof in implementation? - YES! Is he still capable of turning things around with the skills and resources at his disposal? - YES!
.

[size=18pt]What Or Who Exactly is Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria? [/size]
Peter P. Ekeh, Professor At the State University of New York At Buffalo, is Obviously Not Enamoured of the CBN Boss. the Article Below is Contentious And Readers Will Be Treated to Quite a Tour-De-Force. Their Reactions to Ekeh Will Make Wonderful Agenda Pieces,

In 2001, I had a nasty public dispute with the late Dr. Bala Usman of Ahmadu Bello University and his close associate and younger fellow-aristocrat, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was then Assistant General Manager at the United Bank for Africa. In two engaging papers - "The Misrepresentation of Nigeria: the Facts and the Figures" and "Ignorance, Knowledge, and Democratic Politics in Nigeria" - Bala Usman had assailed claims of autonomy made by ethnic nationalities of Southern Nigeria. His vexation against the assertion that the resources of the Niger Delta belonged to its people was particularly passionate and led him to deride some major ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta. Bala Usman urged Northern states of Nigeria to lay claims to those resources because, in his vexed contention, mineral petroleum was formed from debris that the River Niger brought to the Niger Delta from Northern Nigeria.

I thought that Bala Usman's point of view was a dangerous ideology. In my reply to him in a paper titled "The Mischief of History: Bala Usman's Unmaking of Nigerian History," I pointed to facts and perspectives that invalidated his positions. Bala Usman was a brilliant man. He was also a wise man. In his wisdom, he did not contest the facts of my argument against the controversial propositions in his papers. It was also possible that another reason why Bala Usman did not reply to me was that his younger associate Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had taken it upon himself both to defend Bala Usman and to advance their common interests in the aristocracy that they shared.
In an agitated paper titled "Usman, Ekeh, and Urhobo 'Nation,'" Sanusi not only defended Bala Usman whose views I had attacked; he assailed me also for what he thought was the illogicality of my position. Sanusi cited my Inaugural Lecture entitled Colonialism and Social Structure in which I had argued that there were lasting consequences of colonialism in Africa. He hurriedly concluded that my attack on Bala Usman's denunciation of Southern claims of ethnic autonomy was incompatible with my earlier position in the Inaugural Lecture. Now, my Inaugural Lecture was delivered at the University of Ibadan in 1980 when Lamido Sanusi was an undergraduate student at Ahmadu Bello University. As I subsequently explained to him and to other readers of my rejoinder in April 2001 (see "Organized Campaign in Defence of Bala Usman and the Breakdown in Nigeria's National Consensus", Sanusi was mistaken in his assessment of the meanings of my lecture and of my rejection of Bala Usman's belligerence towards the Niger Delta.

Sanusi's follow-up response became less shrill and showed a different side of him. He abandoned his previous effort to take me to a degradation ceremony by alleging that I had committed "intellectual suicide." Uncommonly for his much advertised aristocratic class, Sanusi allowed that injustice had been committed in the Niger Delta. It was in the course of that calmer correspondence that Sanusi sent me a copy of a paper ("Issues in Restructuring of Corporate Nigeria" for publication in www.waado.org, a Web site that I edit. I see that that paper has assumed considerable significance in the public estimation of Sanusi's persona. Rightly so. It was presented at an Arewa House forum organized by Northern Nigeria's elite in 1999 as part of the preparation for a new civilian order.

That encounter with Lamido Sanusi eight years ago is worth reviewing because it reveals a good number of things about the personality and character of the man who now occupies one of the most important positions in Nigeria's public affairs. First, it was obvious, at least to me, that Sanusi was a determined fighter for those causes that would advance his aristocratic claims to privileged positions in Nigeria. How else would one explain his defence and implicit advocacy of Northern claims on the natural wealth of the Niger Delta which his elder compeer had articulated? Second, Sanusi seems to accept and to share a common point of view in his elite circles that what is good for the Fulani aristocracy is good for Northern Nigeria and therefore Nigeria. Much has been written in recent months, particularly by Southern scholars and commentators, about Northern monopoly of power under President Umaru Yar' Adua. In fact, however, what we are witnessing before our own eyes is a growing stranglehold on Nigeria's major institutions by one ethnic minority, the Fulani, under the cover of Northern Nigeria. Lamido Sanusi is in the midst of that power-play and he seems to be enjoying every bit of it. In his now-famous "Issues in Restructuring of Corporate Nigeria," Sanusi states an elementary truth about his identity: "I am Fulani. I am Muslim. But I am able to relate to every Nigerian as a fellow Nigerian and respect his ethnicity and his faith." It is fair to say that Sanusi's primary obligations flow from being a Fulani and a Muslim and that the layer of Nigeria or, indeed, Northern Nigeria is a convenient secondary cover.

There is another noteworthy peculiarity that is manifest from Lamido Sanusi's utterances and behavior. He is an impulsive man, a trait that has led him to stir up controversies. He is quick to jump to conclusions in a flash from ready-made templates. In 2001, I was struck with how rapidly he could pronounce my intellectual demise after reading a bare fraction of my writings. Others have complained about nasty comments on the Yoruba and the Igbo in his voluminous political writings. Such impulsive tendencies have exposed him to praise for being a truth-teller but also to charges of inconsistencies or, worse, insincerity in his claims of fairness. For instance, following Lamido Sanusi's dismissive attack on a Kano-based Muslim scholar and preacher Ja'afar Mahmoud Adam for his brand of Islamic doctrine, from England came this brutal assessment of Sanusi's character by a fellow Muslim scholar. Accusing him of hiding "the larger portion of his character ,  under the guise of 'Islamic Scholarship,'" Muhammad Jameel Yusha'u tore into Sanusi thus:

People can now distinguish between true Islamic scholars [like Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmoud Adam] who adhere to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and tried to abide by it and societal chameleons [like Sanusi Lamido Sanusi] who could be bankers today, political analysts tomorrow, economists the day after tomorrow and the next morning appear as malikis with a dose of shi'a doctrines in their cupboard (see "Sanusi Lamido Sanusi's Narcissism and Self-Glorification".

There is much more truth in that angry accusation than a scholar's flourishes. The bigger question is this: having played so many roles, can Sanusi be called a specialist in any one of them? For instance, can Lamido Sanusi successfully play the role of Chief Economist of the Federation, which is the responsibility of the Governor of the Central Bank?

[size=18pt]Is Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Qualified to Be Governor of Nigeria's Central Bank?[/size]

Modern economies are complex. A careless remark by the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in the United States or by the Governor of Bank of England could lead to loss of sizeable wealth in a single day. Governors of Central Banks in most countries of the world are labeled chief economists of their nations because of the critical roles they play in their economic fortunes. For that reason, Governors of Central Banks are usually accomplished scholars in macroeconomic areas of knowledge as well as being experienced men or women in the management of their nations' economic wellbeing. In addition, they are expected to be extremely diplomatic in their public utterances. That is why they tend to be conservative in their ways. The position of the Governor of Central Bank is certainly not one for firebrand radicals. Because the economies of the world are no longer as autonomous as they were as recently as a few decades ago, Governors of Central Banks must also be experienced professionals who generate confidence in their capabilities beyond their national borders. That is why they are often compared one to another in our day in which national economies are inter-related.

The question before the nation now is the following: What are the qualifications of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that prepared him for his new position of Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria? Is he qualified for it? A related question is this: how does he compare with his counterparts elsewhere, particularly in comparable African countries? These are fair and important questions because what Sanusi says and does as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria will surely affect us all, probably for the rest of our lives.

[size=18pt]Sanusi's Academic Qualifications for Governor of Central Bank[/size]
No responsible nation will recruit a sociologist or a political scientist or even a historian for the position of Governor of its Central Bank. This is because his or her assignment is specialized within the well configured knowledge area of monetary macroeconomics. Botswana's banking chieftain phrased the matter severely but quite correctly. As Ms Linah Mohohlo, the award-winning Governor of Botswana's Central Bank, once told Euromoney magazine: "African countries are not a homogeneous group in terms of fiscal management and standards. , The world economic history is littered with casualties of fiscal mismanagement. Prudent fiscal management is indispensable in today's modern economies given its potential in underpinning an appropriate macro-economic balance as a basis for sustainable growth" (see "Botswana Bank Head Is Regional Governor of the Year". In its proper context, the Botswanan is telling us that it takes much to prepare to fulfill the role of Governor of Central Bank. Sound and serious academic preparation, beginning with undergraduate studies, is the starting step in this grounding. Thereafter, potential candidates for the Governor of Central Bank must engage their colleagues with publications that will advance the management of the nation's fiscal affairs.

I have always said I liked how he dealt with the banks and their MD's.Some of his policies are o.k.Although he really doesn't understand the principles.I think he acts with common sense, which may not always be the right solution in the long term.Now to these publications he keeps writing,it shows he can be very unprofessional and erratic in his thinking.His sense of entitlement is amazing and obviously beclouds his judgement.Ihave changed my mind on him being in that position.He needs to be replaced.Surely someone that insults every other tribe so maliciously cannot be trusted with such a sensitive position.Surely the north has intellectuals he can be replaced with? So that this political spoilt brat prostitute can find more time to rant nd write ridiculous articles to where he will remain irrelevant for the rest of his life.He's crazy.

What? We need more info on that guy.

ADint:

Very funny . But are you saying someone that was a GM at UBA under Tony Elumelu is brainless?? An ED at First Bank?? And eventually CEO?? The guy was monstrously angry at the 'deposit looters' and understandably so, I don't agree with his methods and follow-on, but CBN as an institution has the capability within to chart a way forward if he chooses not to look outside. What he needs to do is to identify those within the CBN who can help him ring the changes in a non-abrasive manner.

A little time at UBA, six months as FBN GM, a few months here and there ought to be be a point raiser for any investigative mind. Many "commoner" Nigerians like me would atest to the fact when personalities like Prince Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of Kano walks into that door anybody: GM, director, professor, you better give him what he wants and quickly too.

I used to "be in the same math class" at a Nigerian University with one of those "royal bloods". He rarley attended class, the professor literaly sought him out to please him. the rumor was that he was going to mention the profs name to his father for a plum appointment, etc. While we struggled to sharpen our quadratic equation skills, many of us made Bs, and Cs, while the prof. made appointment to see the prince and asked him whether an A or B would be most reflective of his future ambitions. I know my prince-classmate never learnt anything from that class, his "A' grade not withstanding.

I can see Sanusi pushing his royal status all through his educational and banking career. I would have certainly respected him if he had spent a semester at a totally modern University where his status wouldn't have been an issue to anybody, but no all he did was "some" master degree courses, without telling us if he graduated or failed. So please spare me his ABU degree and his "numerous" banking experiences, because in reality it's neither here nor there. How often does a pious religious student change course to banking just because the money is better? Opportunistic comes to mind

Wow, I missed this thread when it was hot as I had been inactive on NL in the last couple of weeks.

I came across this Prof Ekeh's expose on Sanusi few days ago while doing some work on the internet, and not surprisingly, it has made it to NL.

I'm planning to write an equally comprehensive rejoinder to that piece.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to tell you guys here that the author of that article, Professor Peter Ekeh, no doubt an intellectual, has not been in good terms with Sanusi prior to SLS's becoming CBN boss. Both of them engaged in hot debates around 2001. It bias and past grudge cannot be ruled out from Ekeh's write-up. He should thank God that SLS, as CBN governor, will surely not respond to his tirade as he did in 2001. He should continue to have a field day.

Sanusi's article of contention, 2001: http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/essays/BalaUsman/Sanusi.html

For those who argue that SLS is not fit to be a CBN governor because he has a history of engagement in socio-political and even ethnic and religious commentaries, this is most laughable. In as much as that doesn't diminish his knowledge of banking and economics, then there is absolutely nothing wrong in engaging in those areas of debate. If anything, he should be commended for being versatile enough to know much about politics, history, philosophy, religion, culture etc despite being a top banker. I have read over 30 of SLS' writings from 1998-2005 and I'm marvelled at his depth of knowledge in virtually every field of knowledge.

Even on NL here we have people that are versed in so many aspects of knowledge, and that surely doesn't mean that they are less capable of handling taks in their primary field.

I like to use this example in my analyses elsewhere: Chief Bola Ige, with much respect, was a core pan-Yoruba man, a man who believed in the supremacy of Yoruba race and never hid it, but he was made Minister of Justice and AGF not of Yoruba nation but of multi-ethnic Nigeria, and nobody raised issues on whether the man will be able to do justice to every Nigerian, why then do we have issues with a man because he defended his tribe in the past?


There are strong points in Ekeh's submissions no doubt, but more than anything, it shows the ranting of a man that had once been matched, if not finished, by an ordinary banker in his terrain - intellectual discourse.

^^^
Welcome back Jarus.
You can do better than attacking Prof. Ekeh, and blindly taking sides in 2-way hostility between the two gentle-men.
I, for one is not here to carry water for anybody, I'm neither routing for Ekeh, nor personally attacking Sanus out of malicei. Join me and other people here on N/L in elevating this discussion above personal attacks. I was looking forward to seeing a poin-point rebuttal of Ekeh's well researched article, i haven't seen it from you.
Nobody says Sanusi shouldn't speak, comment, write on political, social, and religious issue; the point Ekeh has made is that our chief economist has no published scientific paper on the economics, none at all.-----now please defend that.
We're not interested in whether Sanusi and Ekeh has a street fight so many years ago, fought over the same plate of pepper soup, or even chased the same girl. We just want to see our CBN governor economic philosophy, is that asking for too much?

Whine all you want. Sanusi is going nowhere.

And @naijaking, speaking of incompetence when are you going to write a piece castigating and condemning the likes of Cecilia Ibru for their recklessness and greed that nearly crippled their banks? That's only fair, isn't it?

^^^
Whether Sanusi goes or stays at this point is not such a big deal, the big deal is that for the first time a small fire has been lit under his feet. Gone are the days of random and senseless economic road shows often mixed with Islamic radical idealogies, gone are the days when our CBN governor mixes up islamic puritanism with socialism, and gone are the days when the guy devouts months and weeks on end maligning his professional opponents, and expecting nobody to ask him questions from above, because all the people that matter; the president, the economic advicer, the fin.minister, and that of national planning are from his neck of ethnic wood.

Cecelia Ibru
You just can't wait for the case to wind its way through the courts.