Afenifere condemns Emefiele’s involvement in politics, request for restraining order

Says economy suffered unprecedented deficit under him
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has berated Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over his involvement in partisan politics and rushed to court to seek a restraining order.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Jare Ajayi, who spoke with The Guardian yesterday, said the action of Emefiele and the government he is serving demonstrated how low Nigeria has sunk in terms of sanctity and decency.

Ajayi said: “While every adult Nigerian has a right to aspire and indeed contest for any position, there are some basic virtues expected from such aspirant beyond satisfying the legal requirements.

“Some of these are probity, integrity and morality. Under Emefiele, the Central Bank and by implication, the Nigerian economy, have suffered an unprecedented integrity deficit.

“For the CBN governor to have rushed to the court to seek protection even when none of those he sued has initiated any action against him, is a tacit admission on his part that what he is doing (or is about to do) is not only wrong but could earn him sanctions.”

Ajayi, who recalled that the Central Bank Act forbids its governor from “engaging in any full or part-time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not, except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the bank’s board,” said that Emefiele’s actions qualified under ‘gross misconduct’ for which an occupant of the office could be removed.