NGF condemns Sanusi’s Suspension

vanguardngr.comGOVERNORS under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF yesterday condemned in very strong terms, the suspension of governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, describing the move as an attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan to divert from the fight against corruption.

Rising from a meeting which started at 8pm Monday and ended 1. 20am Tuesday Monday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, the Governors noted that the suspension was a complete breach of the nation’s constitution and the CBN Act of 2007, adding that the action of the president was capable of diverting Nigerians attention and that of the international community from the current discourse of missing $ 20 billion, adding that it was in total support of forensic audit of Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala and the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

In a communique read by the NGF Chairman and governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, the Governors also accused the presidency of alleged plans to impeach governor Tanko Al- Makura of Nasarawa State using the State House of Assembly as a renewed assault on the nation’s democracy, adding that the presidency wants to plung the nation into economic and political crisis.


The Governors also renewed its condemnation of President Jonathan’s refusal to call for a meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, seven months after, even as it urged the Supreme Court to expedite action on constitutional cases and those relating to excess crude accounts and deductions on oil subsidy.

It also condemned the renewed killings in the North East of the country, but however commended the Military in its efforts at curtailing the menace and asked the federal government to wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and protecting.

The communique read in full, “The suspension of the Governor of Central bank of Nigeria Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by the President is in clear breach of the Nigerian constitution and the CBN act 2007. The suspension is aimed at diverting attention from the current national discourse on the missing %20 billion from NNPC Account, allegation of corruption and questionable accountability.

We support the call of the Minister of Finance and the Senate Committee on Finance for a forensic audit of NNPC “Forum reiterates its concern about the deliberate refusal of the Presidency to convene the National Economic Council meeting for seven months.

This has emasculated the constituinal opportunity to discuss the perilous state of the Nigerian economy thus plugging the national into economic and political crisis.

In addition, members appeal to the judiciary particularly the Supreme Court to accelerate the hearing on the constitutional cases especially the case of the Excess Crude Account and the illegal deductions. “Members express concerns on the state of killing in the north east.

We commend the military and other security agencies in their efforts to quell this. However, we expect the federal government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country.

It also condemned the plot to impeach the Nasarawa state governor and condemn it.” Present at the meeting were governors of Rivers State; Adamawa; Nasarawa; Kano; Lagos; Imo and Sokoto. Also present were deputy governors of Osun, Borno and Edo States