…Alligns With Reps Against CBN Governor, Demands Arrest, Immediate Sack
By Progress Godfrey, Abuja
The Coalition of Southern Groups (CSG) has declared its backing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) on alleged plans to scuttle 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
The Group demanded also the arrest and sack of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele over issues emanating from currency change, as well as the sack of the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Mele Kyari.
The CSG made this allegation and demands in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Global President, Yoruba Council Worldwide, Barr Oladotun Hassan, and its Secretary and President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, made available to SUMMIT Post Monday.
The CSG is an apex coordinating body for the majority of various groups of the Southern Nigeria extraction: Yoruba Council Worldwide, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council, Ijaw Youth Council, Itsekiri Youth Council, Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council among others,
According to the Coalition, President Buhari’s endorsement of “harsh, unrealistic economic and financial policies” by the Central Bank of Nigeria less than a month before the election and few months to the end of the current administration was a course to worry about. The group added that given the foregoing, silence had become unpopular and no longer an option to embrace.
The Coalition also insisted that Emiefile’s refusal to extend the earlier January 31st deadline, now extended till 10th February 2023, was pretentious and tailored toward undermining the success of the election, “despite the patriotic intervention of the Nigerian Senate, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Monarchs and all other distinguished Nigerians and notable stakeholders urging the CBN to extend the deadline by 6 months or more.”
The CSG further expressed worries that many Nigerian families and businesses were suffering from fuel scarcity and hike in fuel pump price, hence, it stated that embarking on Naira Exchange and making the new currency to be conspicuously scarce by the CBN, at the same time, was latent ground for suspicion.
The statement read in part: “In view of the persistence in the lopsided height of crescendo on the perennial hydra-headed factors bedeviling the state of the nation, particularly on issues bordering on fuel Scarcity, Change of Currency and Unavailability of New Notes, coupled with INEC red alert on hacking of its database, insecurity; all this are systemic circulated agenda to scuttle the success of the 2023 general elections, precipitating our resolution to align with all the bold positions reached and taken by the CNG on the unfolding double Jeopardy just a few days to the conduct of general elections in Nigeria.
“Failure upon continuous persistence of these two hydra-headed factors without solution beyond the next seven days, we hereby give notice to President Mohammadu Buhari and National Assembly led by Senator Ahmed Lawan and Rep Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, for the immediate sacking of the Governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele and Mr Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of NNPC LIMITED forthwith, having earlier demanded for his removal few months ago.
“The CSG in consonant with the CNG, after digesting all the above grounds for utter suspicion, is reiterating its stance, hence we unanimously align ourselves with the resolution of the House of Representatives Committee on Naira Swap led by the House Leader, Hon. Al-Hassan Ado Doguwa to arrest and sanction Mr Godwin Emefiele in strict contravention of the section 5 of the CBN Act, while further requesting President Muhammadu Buhari to consider his promises of delivering a succinct democracy that is devoid of rancorous and acrimonious tendencies, ensure dividends of democracy to the citizenry, while hoping he will see through the eyes of the needle that anything that will elongate this administration beyond May 29, will be resisted and lead to constitutional aberration.”
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as a major beneficiary of a credible election to absolve himself by reclaiming his statesmanship and by patriotically standing against any machination against the conduct of credible elections and peaceful handover
“We alert the global community to the dangers of tolerating a rigged election in Nigeria or any undemocratic arrangement that may not be the result of a credible, free and fair election, ” the statement added.
The Coalition urged citizens to prepare to endure the present pains and agonies and ensure they cast their votes and make sure their votes count, regardless of the antics of “enemies” of the country and undemocratic elements.