₦airaland Forum

Orderly transition begins March 1  •

Disagreement resolved


Jaiyeola Andrews 



The embattled Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has allayed concerns over his departure, informing his staff that he will remain in office till June 1 when his tenure as governor expires.

Sanusi, THISDAY reliably gathered, met with the staff of the central bank Wednesday to inform them that his earlier decision to go on terminal leave in March had been rescinded and that he was prepared to stay out his tenure.

Sanusi’s meeting with his staff took place a day after President Goodluck Jonathan had asked him to resign on the grounds that he leaked the letter that he had written to the president on the unremitted $49.8 billion oil revenue to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

But Sanusi immediately denied the allegation and refused to step down, reminding the president that he could only be removed by two-thirds of the Senate.

However, owing to the impact on the financial markets and the macroeconomy, well-meaning Nigerians who were also concerned that Sanusi's forced departure could send the wrong signals to the international investment community, moved promptly to appeal to the president to rethink his demand that the CBN governor should resign.

Their intervention, THISDAY learnt, was able to lead to a rapproachment, during which Sanusi affirmed his respect for the Office of the President and the president,  as well as his desire to continue to work in the interest of the federal government until he steps down on June 1.

With the resolution of the matter, a source in the presidency said that an orderly transition would commence on March 1, paving the way for the appointment of a new CBN governor who would take over from Sanusi.

During the meeting with the CBN personnel, Sanusi made it official that he was no longer going on terminal leave and would remain in office till June 1.
He was also quoted as saying that it is only a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate that can unseat him.

Sanusi's position is supported by the CBN Act, which stipulates how an incumbent governor can be removed from office.

Section 11(2)(f) of the Act states: “A person shall not remain a Governor, Deputy Governor or Director of the Bank if he is removed by the President: Provided that the removal of the Governor shall be supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed.”

Expectedly, the face-off between the president and Sanusi, which was exclusively reported by THISDAY yesterday, elicited mixed reactions and disbelief among critical stakeholders in the financial system, the political establishment and lawyers. ....

cramjones: LET ME STATE IS CATEGORICALLY CLEAR!!! I AM NOT FEMI FANI-KAYODE, I AM AN APC MEMBER...I DO NOT REPRESENT FANI-KAYODE'S OPINIONS AND I DO NOT SUPPORT ALL HE SAYS, I SUPPORT SOME BUT NOT ALL. I WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR SO THAT PEOPLE WILL STOP INSINUATING WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW!

Obiagelli: I am just loving this dude, keep it up Cramjones, we are solidly behind you so long as you remain innocent.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Buruji Kashamu, whom former President Olusegun Obasanjo made reference to in his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, has described the former president as an ingrate who used him to achieve his political aspirations. Obasanjo, in his letter to the president, condemned Jonathan’s relationship with Kashamu, a man wanted in the United States for drug related offences. The former president called for Kashamu’s extradition to the US to face charges.
Kashamu is currently the leader and financier of the PDP in Ogun State, Obasanjo’s home state. In a statement titled: “We are Partners’, which was a response to Obasanjo’s letter, Kashamu said the former president had used him to achieve his political aims in Ogun State in the past. “He used me to fight Gbenga Daniel and I spent over N3 billion to fight his cause and took the PDP structure from Daniel and handed it over to him,” Kashamu said of the former president. “He later brought his friend, a 77-year-old Gen. Adetunji Olurin, to be the governorship candidate. Now, he is casting aspersion on the person of the President and my humble self," he said. Obasanjo had a running battle with Daniel, who was Ogun State governor from 2003 to 2011. Daniel was eventually forced out of the PDP prior to the 2011 elections and moved his supporters to the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). Kashamu, according to an online news medium, Premium Times, also described Obasanjo’s 18- page letter as satanic, self-serving and mischievous. “When you have a man who should be a father figure descend into the arena, clutching at every opportunity to play to the gallery. “Who should be ashamed among us? How many former Presidents and Heads of State would do this? He thinks he is disgracing his people but unknown to him, he is making himself a laughing stock in the eyes of the discerning," he said. The billionaire lamented that following Obasanjo’s letter, he had “been inundated with calls from family members, friends, business and political associates as to his real intentions.
“In the 18-page letter dated December 3, 2013, Obasanjo called me a shameless criminal. Pray, why should I be ashamed when I am not a criminal or the one being looked for, and he knows! They have called all manner of names to silence and sabotage me so as to take over party structure in the South-west in order to work against the government.” The Ogun politician also condemned the former president for writing such a letter.
“If Obasanjo could write this kind of letter against his own people, with a view to inciting Nigerians against the man he introduced to them, then it leaves much to be desired. “The was the same man who said Jonathan was the only one fit for the job having been cleared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He told Nigerians to vote him as President because of his unimpeachable character and integrity. It is unfair for him to round to insult the President," he added. Kashamu said the former president was only bitter because he had lost out in the PDP.
“Initially, he was given everything he wanted but he was still not pleased. Now that things have changed, he is grumbling,” he said. “He merely ventilated his frustrations over the new political reality that has stripped him bare of any claim to Ogun State and the South-west geo- political zone.” “Ordinarily, a person of his standing should tower far and above such parochialism. But he won’t have any of such. He would rather eat the fat of the land and still struggle for the crumbs while at one playing the ostrich. If the truth be told, the letter to President Goodluck Jonathan is, to say the least, satanic, self-serving and mischievous.” The politician also said restated his earlier claims that it was Mr. Obasanjo that introduced him to the presidency and leaders of the PDP. “Can he (Obasanjo) deny that we wined and dined together in the past? Can he deny knowledge of my closeness to his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, especially during the events leading to the 2011 general elections? Can he deny that he introduced me to some leaders of the PDP in the South West, such as the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade; his Agric counterpart, Dr. Adesina Akinwunmi; and Mr. Segun Oni, among others, as his political son in whom he is well pleased? “Can he deny that he did not introduce me to the former acting Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and other officials of the PDP-led federal government during the events leading to the 2011 general elections, especially as it relates to Ogun State and my role in the whole scenario? Can he deny that he openly praised me to high heavens at various public fora and rallies, including during the reception I organised for the former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye (JMK)? Why is it that it is now that he is calling me names and blaming the Presidency for condoning me? What offence have I committed?” “I am not ashamed to say ex-President Obasanjo was my adopted political father and I was also his adopted political godson. We were partners. We planned and executed many things together. When it was convenient for him, I was his right hand.”

Abagworo: People seem to have gone too far with the attacks. From revered elder statesmen to the beggers on the street. I think his major undoing was attacking Amaechi an innocent man just because he chose not to support him politically. Some people were praising him not knowing the gravity of such act and its implications.

Today every trade union is planning to embark on strike at the slightest provocation.

berem: Are you planning anything stoopid? Nairaland is not facebook if you must know.

berem: she's not going to register with her real name mind you. She said there were some baseless stories about her on Nairaland. I proved her wrong and copied this thread link to her,thus it changed her mind.

Abagworo: Not exactly. Go back to anywhere on Nairaland and check the response of Jonathans supporters to issues. They call Rochas "Mallam" and call Northerners parasites. They believe Amaechi is a traitor for not supporting Jonathans open tribalism. In fact they've so polarized the country that almost everything is viewed from tribal angle. It wasn't that way during Obasanjo's tenure. I am one who believes in Nigeria and hate any one involved in tribalism to an extent that I can physically brutalize them.

Jonathan and his group should be preaching national unity and sack Oduah immediately.

berem: don't worry. Am covered!

Abagworo: I'm proud of this lady. Nothing better than one who says the simple truth without fear or favor. I feel ashamed sometimes at the way some Igbos allow themselves to be used against glaring truth just because of money. I'm happy and proud of being from Imo State. Nigeria is bigger than any person, tribe or region. God bless Nigeria.

berem: That is just the same reason I stop criticizing Jonathan on facebook. I got threats from some Ijaw people both male and female and Igbo peeps last year and I stopped posting comments, but this time, I am storming Jonathan's fan page and Igbo page with full force.

1wolex85: While I agree that obj can be very vindictive and vengeful and deceitful, this thread doesn't prove that what he wrote in the letter are all lies. I wont go back and forth with you, obj's real intentions not withstanding, if you think ALL he wrote are all lies, all well and good. One day our eye go open.

1wolex85: Look if we were to dig up dirt on everyone that speaks publicly, we'll never listen to anyone again because we will surely find dirt. Mr Wesley, if you become a public figure right now, people can and will dig up dirt on you. There are times we have to take what a person says and see if they are true even if the person has a questionable character. A dead clock is correct twice a day.

1wolex85: Used to think this wesley80 guy was a reasonable person. Its ok if you support gej, but the things some of you do to support him is absolutely ridiculous!!!
How does this thread relate to the letter obj wrote? Lets assume gen isama's account of events is d correct one, what has it got to do with the letter?
The biggest problem of this administration is not gej himself but the sycophants both internal and external who always make him feel he is doing the best that he can.

kettykin: Little wonder Mandela was angry with Nigeria till he died, Nigeria does not understand heroism

seanet02: but not credible enough when they criticized Jonathan for looking the other way when Odua bought 2 armoured cars with 250m?
Can you please change your handle to HYPOCRITE?

seanet02: I cannot wesley is backing up his gibberish with a reference from the nation?
is the nation now credible?

shymexx: Who cares if he is/was a hero or not? The crux of the matter is that GEJ is the president of Nigeria and he owes every Nigerian out there an explanation on how he's managing the affairs of the country and the oath he swore to. And OBJ, as a Nigerian citizen, has a right to ask questions.

The questions have been asked - how about tell GEJ to provide answers? Whatever OBJ does/did/has-done/is-doing is none of my business. He's his own man and he isn't a public official anymore.

Stop this inane character assassination and focus on the real issue - which is the letter. Go provide answers to that!