Emir of Kano and Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has express confidence in Presidential aspirant Kingsley Moghalu’s ability to lead the Country. This is even as Moghalu deserted him when he was suspended for reforms which Moghalu himself was part of.
Addressing Moghalu at his palace in Kano, Sanusi iterated the need to overcome selfish political biases which is to the detriment of National growth.
“I have the privilege of working with five brilliant associates as Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria when I was the Governor.
“I can testify that all of them are credible and displayed the credibility to handle the political leadership of this Country; one of them is Professor Kingsley.
“I will rather urge all of them that worked with me, including Professor Kingsley to inject their intellectual experience to grow the Nation’s economy”.
Sanusi, the whistleblower, all alone
In 2014, Sanusi was suspended for financial recklessness by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Goodluck Jonathan-led Presidency, an allegation he denied vehemently as some of the spendings he was indicted for were at the behest of the President and were all properly accounted for. He insisted that the suspension was due to his uncovering the diversion of $20 billion oil revenue by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Meanwhile, Moghalu who was regarded by some as Sanusi’s anointed successor, in an interview with the Independent, distanced himself from Sanusi’s ordeal with the Federal Government, even though the same report that indicted Sanusi also indicted him and other Deputy Governors of CBN.
“The lesson that can be drawn from it is the limits of Central Bank independence… There is a very thin line between Central Bank independence and… Political posturing.
“The President of Nigeria and the Government of Nigeria have never in my knowledge interfered with the function of the Central Bank, and therefore I think we need to give them credit for respecting [its] independence”. Moghalu had said.
Disparaging Sanusi for his audacity in making such explosive allegations, Moghalu said “Somebody in the Central Bank was taking on an activist political role. That is not our function. Central Banks over the World have clear functions and in your Country [Britain] and any other civilised Country, I know that Central Bank Governors operate within certain expectations and constraints and respect those expectations and constraints.
“The Governor began to make very damaging public allegations against the Government… allegations that have not been proven, after the President had sent him a Presidential query about the finances of the Central Bank. The Government has given a reason for the suspension and that was… to enable an investigation into the allegations against him”.
President Jonathan later appointed Godwin Emefiele as CBN Governor. Emefiele reshuffled the Deputy Governors’ portfolio – a move which saw Moghalu heading the Financial Systems Stability Directorate till his retirement in November 2014.
A handshake far across the Niger
Emir Sanusi’s open validation of Moghalu is coming at a time the major political parties have zoned the Presidency to the North; a region in which the Emir is the 3rd in traditional and religious authority.
Moghalu is a Christian from the Eastern part of the country. This did not seem matter much to the Emir who had in the past encouraged other aspirants including Omoyele Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, who visited him as Nigerians were treated to a hot mic session during which the Emir is heard advicing the activist turn journalist to be careful what he writes this period so that the government does not find a reason to arrest him before elections.
Presidential aspirant of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye was not so lucky when he visited the Ooni of Ife, as the Ooni, while encouraging the youths to contest for positions, politely added that they should support the elders and praised President Buhari in the process.
