More Reactions Trail Sanusi’s Sack; Amaechi Condemns Suspension Order …Action Has Negative Implication On Transparency – APC …Ploy To Sweep Missing Oil Funds Under The Carpet – APC

More reactions have continued to trail President Goodluck Jonathan’s sudden suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from office last Thursday.
Speaking on the president’s action, Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi condemned the sudden suspension of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, describing the action as arbitrary and against the law.
Amaechi spoke yesterday at Christ Church, Port Harcourt during a service organized for the induction of the resident minister and reception of assistant resident ministers.
The Rivers State chief executive officer said that President Goodluck Jonathan does not have such powers to suspend the CBN governor.
“You can imagine how President Jonathan announced the sudden removal (suspension) of the CBN governor. He does not have such powers. He knows that nothing will happen, that was why he took that action.
“So, I think the preachers should begin to preach what we call the liberation theology. You (church leaders) are supposed to have more responsibilities to hold government accountable,” Amaechi said.
Governor Amaechi equally advised members of the Christ Church, Port Harcourt to accord more trust, confidence and encouragement to the newly inducted Resident Minister, Reverend Kaleb Kay Uche and the Assistant Resident Ministers, Rev. Canon Inuma T. Davies and the Reverend Victor Ben.
“I urge the church to keep to their vows as it is in page 26 of the programme. By our training in the Catholic Church, the priest does not lack anything. The church members buy them cars, clothing, food etc. That is why when they die, we bury them in the church premises. You can never disrespect the Catholic Priests,” Amaechi said.
He further promised to commence the building of a model primary school in the church premises.
Earlier in his message, the Prelate and moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria to Christ Church, Port Harcourt, His Eminence, Reverend Emele Mba Uka explained on the significance of the induction of the resident ministers and their services to the church and humanity.
Similarly, The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan over suspension of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the worsening insecurity in Borno and other parts of the North.
A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammad Ibrahim, and issued yesterday in Kaduna, said Sanusi’s suspension has negative implication on transparency and good governance.
“It also negates the principle of separation of power.
“Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is the governor of CBN duly and properly appointed according to law,” the statement said, adding:
“The executive has reportedly suspended him, appointed somebody in acting capacity and submitted the name of his replacement to the Senate. This shows that the government has already decided to sack him.
“ACF wishes to remind the government that only the Senate has the power to dismiss or remove the CBN Governor with a 2/3 majority vote following due process.
“ACF wishes to advise the government and all concerned to avoid doing anything that will tarnish the image and refrain from exposing Nigeria to ridicule at the international level.”
On insecurity, ACF said: “The incessant attacks by the Boko Haram has continued unabated, thereby leaving the people in a state of despair, despite the deployment of military and security agencies in the affected areas.
“The governor of Borno State, who is the chief security officer of his state, has been alive to his responsibility, to the extent of briefing Mr. President on the problems of the state on daily basis.
Also, the incessant ethnic/communal clashes in Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa and other states of the North are gradually undermining the long existing cordial relationship and harmony amongst the various ethnic groups.
“The bad governance resulting in rampant poverty, unemployment, disease, ignorance, etc, remains the major reason for under development and insecurity in the North,” the AFC added.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the presidency of seeking to use its illegal suspension of Malam Lamido Sanusi Lamido as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to divert attention from the allegation of missing 20 billion dollars in oil funds.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the way the presidency has been campaigning to malign Sanusi, using the report of the obscure Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, shows that it is working hard to sweep the issue of the missing funds under the carpet and punish Sanusi for daring to expose the fraud.
It said if the federal government had used half the energy it has been deploying to discredit Sanusi toward the investigation of the missing oil funds, the monumental corruption case would have been solved by now.
“Irrespective of the tepid and unconvincing denial by the presidency, it is clear that the main reason the presidency moved against Sanusi is because he blew the lid on the 20 billion dollars funds which the NNPC allegedly failed to remit to the Federation Account.
“Fortunately, discerning Nigerians are not hoodwinked by the Presidency’s choreographed mudslinging against a whistle blower, and the sponsored campaign that amounts to shooting the messenger just because his message is not palatable.
“While the presidency has chosen to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians over the missing oil funds, we call on the National Assembly to get to the bottom of Sanusi’s allegation and save Nigerians from a rapacious and a rampaging cabal that is hell bent on bringing Nigeria to its knees through runaway corruption,” APC said.
The party said the questions that are begging for answers include: What happened to the missing 20 billion dollars? If indeed a part of the funds has been used for kerosene subsidy, who authorized the spending of money that was not appropriated, in violation of the nation’s constitution? Who reinstated the subsidy that had been removed by a presidential directive? If $8.76 billion of the missing money was used for kerosene subsidy, who and who are the beneficiaries, since it is clear that Nigerians are not enjoying any subsidy on kerosene for which they are shelling out at least 150 Naira per litre?
It re-stated its earlier stand that Sanusi’s suspension is unlawful and that it is another dangerous turn in the Jonathan administration’s journey of impunity, lawlessness and double standard.
APC said the drop in the value of the Naira and the fact that the banking sector and other stocks spiralled into the negative, in the aftermath of the ego-driven and illegal suspension of Sanusi, have shown the dangers inherent in politicizing an office that should be insulated from political pressure
“There are just short-term repercussions. The long-term fallout may be the scaring off of foreign investors by the perception of instability in the financial sector and the erosion of the CBN’s autonomy. If and when that happens, a President who has so far failed to uplift his nation’s economy would have succeeded in sabotaging it,” the party said.
On the allegations against Sanusi, it said the federal government should charge him to court, if indeed it is convinced of the veracity of the allegations, instead of convicting him on the pages of newspapers and mob-lynching him through paid hatchet men.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (right), exchanging pleasantries with Primate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emele Mba Uka, during the induction service of resident ministers of Christ Church, Port Harcourt.