Politics
Sanusi And Politics Of Removal
Penultimate Thursday, the
unthinkable happened. The cerebral governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sanusi who learnt of his suspension in Niamey, Niger Republic while attending a conference of the West African Currency Zone with other governors of the Central Banks in West Africa received the news of his suspension with a rude shock, just like many other Nigerians. He immediately returned to Lagos only to have his international passport seized by the officials of the Directorate of State Security Service (SSS). He has however, challenged his suspension in the court “to establish once and for all if the president has the powers to do what he had done.”
Sanusi told the cable news network, CNBN in Niamey that,“It has never been my desire to hold on to a job. However, I believe if the CBN governor cannot be removed from office, then he cannot be suspended. He can be qurried, but the exercise of the arbitrary decision to remove him must be challenged.
“If it is not challenged, then from now, the next CBN governor cannot be independent. He can be suspended for any reason, and the independence of the CBN would be totally undermined. It is important to establish the point legally whether this can happen. I do plan to ask the court to confirm if indeed, that authority exists. I will challenge it”.
The apex bank boss, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, was suspended because of his alleged financial infractions and recklessness as well as multiple cases of fraudulent practices. The CBN under Sanusi’s watch, was also accused of not maintaining proper book of accounts as prescribed by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). All these charges were based on the 2012 audit report prepared by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), whose existence is becoming known to millions of Nigerians for the first time.
The FRC’s report, which came to the public domain two days after Sanusi’s suspension, further recommended the sack of the CBN governor and his deputies to the President.
Although, the President was careful not to cite any constitutional provision in suspending Sanusi, perhaps knowing fully well that no such provision existed either in the constitution or the CBN Act to back his action, he nonetheless gave indications that his action did not infringe the law.
“There is absolute power by the president to suspend the CBN governor,” he said during a presidential chat last week.
Section 11(7) of the CBN Act, 2007 gives the president powers to remove the CBN Governor, but with a proviso that such removal must enjoy two-third majority approval of the Senate. The Act does not however, contemplate suspension.
Although the President has denied the allegations of political witch-hunt against the CBN governor, the suspension, coming at a time when Sanusi’s weighty allegations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are still being investigated may likely taint whatever reasons the President adduced for his action.
Sanusi had written to the President accusing the NNPC of not remitting $49.8billion (about three times the nation’s annual budget) to the Federation Account. He, however, later told the Senate Committee investigating the allegations that the unremitted amount was actually $20billion and not $49.8billion earlier mentioned, blaming the CBN’s Reserve Department for misleading him.
Sanusi’s whistle-blowing and his sustained public attacks on the NNPC, widely seen as a conduit pipe and the epicenter of corruption in Africa’s top oil producer, has earned him powerful enemies within government circle.
The unprecedented nature of the CBN governor’s suspension, in the history of Nigeria and perhaps that of most countries of the world, has however, divided the nation along its main fault lines-political, ethnic and religious lines, with the former (politics) appears to be playing a dominating factor.
While government apologists, made up of mostly members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported Sanusi’s suspension and argued that only few government would have tolerated Sanusi’s arrogant personality and the ‘defiance’ he applied to his brief as CBN governor; critics of Jonathan’s administration, especially the main opposition party- the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the suspension as a political malice, saying it was sheer disrespect to the rule of law and a show of impunity and ingratitude that a person who has brought about sweeping revolution in the banking industry and who should have been commended for exposing the rot in the oil industry could be so vilified.
The House of Representatives fired the first salvo and perhaps set a stage for what has become a political mudslinging among the nation’s major political players.
Shortly after the news of Sanusi’s suspension hit the air waves, the House of Representatives rejected the suspension. Apparently embittered by what the legislators perceived as selective implementation or non-compliance with its resolution against some public officers over corrupt practices, the House mandated its committees on Justice, and Legislative Compliances to compile all resolutions that have indicted any public officer for which President Jonathan had refused to act on, and therefore requested the President to act on them with immediate effect.
The decision which was taken after adopting a motion moved by the Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, was however, preceded by sharp division between APC and PDP members in the House. While the PDP members were in support of the suspension, their counterparts in the APC described the suspension as unconstitutional and antithetical to the nation’s economy more so at a time when the CBN governor raised some concerns about missing funds.
Similar scenario played out at the Senate with the PDP members which constituted the majority voting in support of the suspension and the APC members rejecting the measure.
Acting on an already set stage by their members, the two leading parties in the country toed the party lines in their separate responses to the suspension.
The APC accused the presidency of campaigning to malign Sanusi, using the report of “obscure” Financial Reporting Council (FRC). It also accused President Jonathan of seeking to use the suspension to divert attention and thereby sweeping the alleged $20billion NNPC missing funds under the carpet and punishing Sanusi for daring to expose the alleged fraud.
In a statement issued by the APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, the party said, “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 funds, which the NNPC allegedly failed t o 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”.
The PDP in its own reactions, described Sanusi’s suspension as long overdue. It justified both the suspension and the President’s powers to do so, saying he who hires has the power to fire.
The same political mudslinging dominated the reactions of the two factions of the Nigeria’s Governor Forum. While the faction led by the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi and made up of mostly APC governors, condemned the suspension and called for the forensic audit of NNPC’s account as a way of confirming or refuting Sanusi’s allegations, the Jonah Jang’s faction comprising mainly of PDP governors and Jonathan’s loyalists, lent its support to Sanusi’s suspension, and accused Amaechi’s NGF of playing out APC’s script.
Meanwhile, the Kano Emirate Council, in a statement signed by the Galadima Kano, Alhaji Tijani Hahim, believed Sanusi’s suspension was a deliberate attempt to witch hunt a whistle blower who exposed a monumental fraud in the NNPC.
“As the President has suspended the governor without the recourse to the rule of law, we believed it was a deliberate attempt to witch-hunt him. It is a desperation and impunity at the highest level by the Federal Government,” the council said.
On its own, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the end of its emergency meeting last week, cautioned the Jonathan’s government against any harm befalling Sanusi.
Although the presidency wears Sanusi’s sack the gown of a suspension, everything surrounding the suspension indicates the dismissive tone of a sack. In a similar guise of suspension, Justice Ayo Salami (retired) was removed as the President of the Appeal Court by President Jonathan and was not reinstated despite the reinstatement order by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
As a newspaper columnist, Idowu Akinlotan noted recently, “not only was the former CBN boss removed, his temporary and permanent replacements were hastily named with temerity that reeked of political insensitivity and unconstitutionality, and with such absolute lack of grace and class that leaves one wondering how it was possible for Dr Jonathan to demean the Nigerian presidency to such level of pettiness.”
Many questions are however, begging for answers regarding Sanusi’s suspension. Notwithstanding that the presidency hanged the suspension on FRC’s report which indicted the CBN boss of financial misconduct, why did the presidency take this long to fire Sanusi, when the FRC’s report had been submitted to the President since June, last year, if truly the suspension was not connected with the president’s exasperation, arising from the disquieting concern Sanusi raised about financial improprietness in the NNPC? And why did the President spare the NNPC Group Managing Director, Andrew Yakubu and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke whose agency and ministry are also under investigation? Why didn’t the President also suspend the CBN deputy governors who were also recommended for sack by the FRC? Why did the President not implement several other reports that called for the removal of certain officials of government that were indicted?
While it may take Sanusi more than a mere judicial discharge and acquital to convince his traducers that his integrity is not sullied by any financial impropriety and brashness, it will also take President Jonathan more than a FRC’s report to justify that Sanusi’s suspension was not due to his poking a finger in the President’s eye in the course of allegations against NNPC.
President Jonathan and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Boye Salau
He said he would not hesitate to activate the recall process against any lawmaker found wanting, if he returns for a second term in office.
He stated this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including those who lost out at the recently held national and state assemblies primaries and have become aggrieved and disrespectful to the party.
While emphasizing the supremacy of the party, he said decisions were taken in the overall interest of the party and the state and must, therefore, be respected by all members.
He warned lawmakers against being insolent and arrogant to their people to the extent of shutting them out after each election cycle, saying such would no longer be condoned.
“So I am appealing to all of you. If you were born with arrogance, please just drop that ticket here”, he said.
The governor hinted that after the next cycle of elections, the process of recalling lawmakers who made themselves “tin gods” would be activated.
“Well, they say they don’t recall people from parliament, but this will be the first time.
“Anybody whom the people say they are tired of will be brought back home. Anybody who goes and forgets his people completely and doesn’t care, thinking that during elections he will come and pretend to be a good man, will be brought back.
“And we are making this very, very clear. We will not fail in what we have said. I am working tirelessly; I don’t sleep. If you are going into office during this period, there will be no sleep for you”, he said.
He advised politicians not to ignore their people who hold the power, insisting: “You cannot overlook them and become so arrogant and pompous that you don’t know your people.”
Gov. Otu also advised members of the ruling APC, who lost at the just-concluded party primaries in the state, not to defect to opposition parties like the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that they would suffer untold hardship and would not make any political headway, if they did.
“There are some kwashiorkor parties that are registering people. Such parties are wasting their time and not even my time. They cannot do anything.
“I don’t want anybody to suffer the fate I suffered. That’s why I’m warning those aggrieved aspirants who lost not to go the way of those parties to avoid unnecessary suffering.
“I don’t want anybody to go that route. It’s an absolute waste of time, energy and people’s future, because at the end of the day, you will drag people into that bottomless pit.
“And when you drag them there and can’t take care of them, you begin to rot, you begin to die. May God give me the energy and power to sustain.”
He appealed to the aggrieved APC members, saying: “There’s nothing that we cannot settle. God’s time is the best. Whatever we’ve done is for the common good of all of us.”
2027: INEC APPEALS JUDGMENT ON ELECTION GUIDELINES
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified aspects of the Commission’s 2027 General Election Guidelines.
The appeal, filed before the Court of Appeal, seeks to overturn the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026, by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The trial court had nullified the provision in the guidelines directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 General Election.
The suit challenging the directive was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that the Commission’s timeline was inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
However, INEC, through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, filed a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
The Commission also filed a motion seeking an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing among others that the trial court failed to determine the jurisdictional issue concerning whether the suit was hypothetical and academic in nature.
The Commission further contended that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the suit and urged the Court of Appeal to strike out the case accordingly.
INEC maintained that its actions were in line with its constitutional mandate to ensure the orderly conduct of elections and effective electoral administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
WHY I ENDORSE TINUBU’S SECOND TERM BID — ADELEKE
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has explained that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027 was influenced by moral responsibility and the need to sustain developmental progress.
The governor said his endorsement was not based on political calculations alone but on what he considers appropriate in view of the relationship between Osun State and the President, as well as ongoing projects benefiting the region.
The position of the governor was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mr Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke spoke on Sunday after conducting an inspection of the ongoing construction work on the Ibadan–Ile Ife–Ilesa Expressway.
During the visit, the governor reportedly commended President Tinubu for embarking on major infrastructure projects across Osun State and other parts of the South-West.
Gov. Adeleke noted that infrastructure development remains essential to economic growth and improved connectivity among communities.
He acknowledged the significance of road projects currently underway, stressing that such investments are expected to contribute to easier transportation, commercial activities, and broader development outcomes within the region.
The governor also highlighted the importance of leadership support in facilitating projects that have direct effects on residents.
He indicated that recognition should be given where efforts are being made to improve public infrastructure, particularly projects capable of enhancing movement between states and strengthening economic interactions in affected areas.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke’s remarks came while assessing the progress of the expressway project, which has continued to attract attention due to its strategic role in linking major cities within the South-West.
The governor reportedly used the opportunity to express appreciation for federal involvement in projects impacting Osun State.
His comments further reflected his view on political and regional ties, especially considering Osun State’s historical connection to President Tinubu.
Gov. Adeleke suggested that such considerations, alongside visible developmental initiatives, shaped his decision to openly support the President’s anticipated re-election effort in 2027.
He said, “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him?”
IPAC specifically said that INEC guidelines cannot supersede constitutional provisions or extant electoral laws.
The Council, which stated these while appraising the judgement of the Federal High Court, stressed that the court judgement specifically addressed exclusionary conditions capable of disenfranchising aspirants and party members during primaries.
This is contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Mr Martins Egbeola, stating that the judgment was a reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy, democratic principles and the rule of law within Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC said that even though INEC possesses powers to issue election guidelines, such powers must however, operate strictly within constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
It noted that the court judgment represented a major victory for democracy, political parties and citizens participating in Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC also said that the court judgement had restored the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs democratically without unlawful interference through administrative directives.
“The judgment would ensure equal opportunities for eligible members to participate in party primaries without discriminatory or exclusionary conditions.
“The INEC Chairman should deepen engagement and consultation with political parties on issues concerning electoral administration and reforms.
“Greater dialogue and collaboration between INEC and political parties would help prevent avoidable disputes and litigation arising from controversial guidelines,” IPAC stated.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this while speaking on a live television interview programme.
According to him, the ruling APC was not focused on fighting opposition parties, claiming that the political battle was currently between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said, “In the last three weeks, the APC has not been fighting ADC or NDC. It is NDC versus ADC or ADC versus NDC.
“Actually, I watched with fun all the insults that the ADC is raining on the NDC and the NDC is returning those fireworks on the ADC.
“I watched the videos, and I laughed. The self-implosion is in the opposition rather than in the APC.”
When asked whether he was orchestrating the crisis in the opposition, Prof. Yilwatda denied the allegation but said weakening the opposition was part of politics.
He said, “No, I can’t. But I will be happy if I can do it. That’s my job.
“If you are opposing me, should I be happy? If you oppose me because you are in the opposition, what’s my job? Of course, to stop the opposition.”
The APC chairman also said the ruling party had stronger conflict resolution mechanisms than other political parties.
According to him, the party had committees at national and state levels to resolve internal disputes arising from congresses and other activities.
Speaking on the APC membership register and the votes secured by President Bola Tinubu during the party’s presidential primary, Prof. Yilwatda said the party relied on data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its registration process.
“To register as a member of the APC, your name and primary data are sourced from NIMC. That’s the same primary data that is used across the country to open a bank account, get a driver’s licence and secure an international passport.
“So we’re the only political party that sources our primary data from NIMC. This is why people have seen the APC as one of the most politically viable and stable parties. We are a data-driven political party,” he stated.
RIVERS ADC PRIMARY: ASPIRANT REJECTS OUTCOME, ACCUSES AMAECHI OF IMPOSITION
The governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has been thrown into turmoil after aspirant Mr Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart rejected the outcome and accused former governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi of imposing a candidate.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade” and said it had produced three separate governorship primary “winners” within the same party.
“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party, all thanks to Amaechi’s high-handedness,” he told journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He warned that the situation could plunge the opposition party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership fails to intervene.
According to him, while the party’s timetable fixed May 23 for the primary, aspirants were informed late Friday that the exercise had been moved forward.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he was mobilising supporters across the 23 local government areas when fellow aspirant, Hon. Farah Dagogo, informed him that a parallel process had already been conducted.
He accused the state party chairman, Mr Chukwudi Dimkpa, of inviting only five aspirants loyal to Mr Amaechi while excluding himself and Hon. Dagogo. The arrangement, he alleged, was designed to clear the path for Dr Gabriel Pidomson, whom he described as Mr Amaechi’s preferred candidate.
He further alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to step down for Dr Pidomson in what he described as a disguised consensus arrangement, despite the party’s public stance against consensus.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart claimed Hon. Dagogo later approached him to jointly resist Mr Amaechi’s camp but asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.
“He told me to go on air and congratulate him, saying we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name. Atiku will not be part of this nonsense,” he said.
The aspirant said he rejected the offer and subsequently declared himself winner after Hon. Dagogo made a similar announcement.
“As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, and I also declared myself winner. Three winners in one primary that never held. This cannot stand,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest.
He also faulted Mr Amaechi for allegedly imposing candidates while demanding transparent presidential primary at the national level.
“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries at the national level turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?”, he queried.
He urged the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The most pragmatic thing now is for the NWC to order a rescheduled primary or quickly adopt a lawful consensus option. Time is running against us,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution and warned Hon. Dagogo against invoking Atiku’s name to bolster his claim.
“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he said.
-
News18 hours agoCourt Sentences Seven To Death Over Murder Of Cleric In Rivers
-
Politics16 hours agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
Sports15 hours agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
News1 day agoGroup Hails Tinubu, Chinda Emergence
-
Politics16 hours agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Sports16 hours agoNPFL: Rivers United Finishes Second, Secures Continental Ticket
-
Sports16 hours agoStakeholders Laud GTI On NPFL Partnership
-
Politics16 hours agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries