Nigeria Governors attack Jonathan over Sanusi’s suspension, demand accountability on missing $20 billion

Presiding Officer, Asishana Okauru, announcing the result of the controversial NGF election

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Tuesday lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan for suspending Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido, weeks after he blew the whistle on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for allegedly diverting not less than $20billion of the country’s oil revenues.
The apparently angry governors said at the end of their meeting in Abuja, which ended in the early hours of Tuesday, that the president’s action was meant to divert attention from the ongoing national discourse on the missing millions.
They faulted Mr. Jonathan for the action, saying he lacked the power to unilaterally send the CBN governor on suspension.
The President had insisted during a televised media chat on Monday that he had oversight powers over the CBN and therefore had absolute power to suspend Mr. Sanusi.
But the governors disagreed, saying the President’s action was a clear breach of the CBN Act 2007, which demands the president to consult the Nigerian senate before activating any process that might lead to the removal of the bank’s governor.
“The suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by Mr. President is in clear breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Act, 2007,” the governors said in a communique read to journalists by their chairman, Rotimi Amaechi.
“The suspension is aimed at diverting attention from the current national discourse on the missing $20billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Account, allegations of corruption and questionable accountability.”
The governors demanded accountability on the missing billions, and backed “the call of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Senate Committee on Finance for a forensic audit of the NNPC Account”.
The governors also condemned the Federal Government for failing to convene the meeting of  the National Economic Council, NEC, in the last seven months, an action they believe was hindering the constitutional opportunity to discuss the state of the nation’s economy.
They appealed to the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, to accelerate hearing on constitutional cases such as those on the Excess Crude Account and illegal deduction of oil subsidy.
The Forum also deliberated on the deadly insurgency in the North-East geopolitical zone and urged the Federal Government to be more responsive to its responsibility of protecting lives and tackle the spate of terrorism attacks in Borno State.
“We expect that the Federal Government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country, especially in the North-East,” they said.
The Forum, however, commended the Federal Government’s efforts at curbing Boko Haram insurgents in the North and urged the government to up their strategies.
While condemning the current spate of killings in the North- East, it applauded the effort of the Nigerian military and other security agencies, which were tackling the insurgents.
The governors also accused the Federal Government of illegally plotting to impeach Governor Tanko Al- Makura of Nasarawa, describing the action as a renewed assault on constitutional democracy.
The NGF is an umbrella association of the 36 elected state governors of the federation, irrespective of party affiliation.
Tuesday’s meeting was attended by governors of Rivers, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kano, Lagos and Imo, while Osun, Borno and Edo were represented by their deputies.
A former Governor of Kwara, Bukola Saraki, now a senator, also made a brief appearance at the meeting. Mr. Saraki was Mr. Amaechi’s immediate predecessor as chairman of the Forum.
Read full communique below.

ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 3RD MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24  2014, AT THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR’S LODGE, ASOKORO, ABUJA
We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting today, at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows:
1.     The suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, by Mr. 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 $20billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Account, allegations of corruption and questionable accountability. We support the call of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Senate Committee on Finance for a forensic audit of the NNPC Account.
2.     Forum reiterates its concern about the deliberate refusal of the presidency to convene the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting for seven months. This has emasculated the constitutional opportunity to discuss the perilous state of the Nigerian economy thus plunging the nation into an 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 (ECA) and illegal deductions on oil subsidy.
3.     Members condemn in totality the current spate of killings in the North East. We commend the Nigerian military and other security agencies in their effort to quell this. However, we expect that the federal government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the country especially in the North East.
4.     It has come to our notice that the presidency is plotting to illegally impeach the Governor of  Nasarawa State, Mr. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. We condemn this renewed assault on constitutional democracy.
Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi

Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum

February 24th, 2014

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We are ready for 2015, APC tells Nigerians

The APC governors urge Nigerians to brace up to throw out the non-performing Peoples Democratic Party
Nigeria’s main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has told Nigerians that the party is poised to give the country purposeful leadership come 2015.
This was the summary of the first Progressives Governance Lecture organised by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
The lecture tagged “Unemployment And The Crisis Of Governance In Nigeria: The Way Forward” held in Ibadan on Monday.

Giving the highlights of policy recommendations and way forward on the theme, Ekiti State Governor and Chair, Governance Steering Committee of the PGF, Kayode Fayemi, said the lecture series was aimed at examining the challenges besetting the country and proffering solutions.
The governor, who added that the APC is a party of difference and development, stated that the struggle of the party is “not the survival of the fittest but to pull up the weak and vulnerable” in the society.
Mr. Fayemi, while assuring Nigerians of a better country, asserted that the 2015 election is going to be a replica of the biblical battle between David and Goliath but the party relies on the people’s support.
The governor noted that there is a connection between unemployment and governance and identified insecurity and unemployment as main problems in Nigeria, saying that the latter breeds the former.
He stressed that the APC owes it a duty rather than a favour to empower the people, hence the first attack on unemployment.
Commenting on the former PDP governors who are now in the APC, Mr. Fayemi said the governors share the same ideologies with the APC even as they pursue similar policies aimed at employment generation.
Recalling some of the points raised by discussants that unemployment and poverty are the root cause of insecurity in the North, the Committee chairman said the incessant killing in the North proves that the Federal Government either has “no capacity or has low capacity” to address the security challenge.
Mr. Fayemi wrapped his presentation up by urging Nigerians to examine the present situation in the country ahead of the February 2015 general elections, saying it is theirs to challenge and throw out a non-performing government.
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Ayo Teriba, had raised some posers for government, stressing the need to do something to halt the growing spate of unemployment in the country as a way of stemming insecurity.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, stated that the unemployment situation in Nigeria is unacceptable and had become a major setback for the country despite the resources it is blessed with.
Mr. Okorocha added that it is the vision of the APC to tackle unemployment by strengthening democratic process and promoting the core values of justice.
The lecture was preceded by a rally at the Lekan Salami Stadium where thousands of APC members trooped out to welcome the party leaders.
The event was attended by a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, interim national chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, former Governor of Ogun State, Segun Osoba; National Vice Chairman of the party (South west) Niyi Adebayo; Governors Aliyu Wammako, Murtala Nyako, Ibikunle Amosun, Rotimi Ameachi, Musa Kwakwanso, and host Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

Others in attendance were Titi Laoye Tomori, deputy governors of Borno and Kwara States and former Speaker, Bello Masari.
Fiery preacher and former Vice Presidential candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare was also present at the event.

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Sanusi Still Governor of CBN-- Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan during the Presidential Media chat 

Deposed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is still Governor of the bank and was only stepped aside, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday evening.
Responding to questions during his sixth presidential media chat — one that subsequently trended on Social Media as too mechanical and somewhat stage-managed — Jonathan stated that Sanusi was only asked to step aside momentarily, pending the conclusion of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria’s inquiry into the audited account of CBN.
Should Sanusi be found innocent of the allegations of financial recklessness against him, Jonathan explained, he would have the opportunity to return to his job.
“Jonathan is not going there to audit CBN. It is the FRCN that is auditing CBN. Even in village meetings, if a member commits an issue, he will have to step aside first. So on Sanusi, we must allow the financial reporting council to work”, he said.
“The issue of the Central Bank is unfortunate but on whether the president has powers to suspend, I will tell you yes! The president has absolute powers. The president appoints, but must clear with the Senate to remove anybody in that capacity.
“The president has oversight functions over the CBN. This is why the president approves audited accounts of the CBN or any changes to be made in the country's currencies. But Sanusi is still the Governor of CBN and Nigerians must know that”.
He blamed controversies over his rights to suspend the governor on the “anomalous” CBN Act. He also defended the gap in the date of FRCN’s indictment of Sanusi and the timing of his suspension, saying the delay was occasioned by exchange of correspondences between all parties concerned.
“If the grey areas are settled by the FRCN and they feel that the infractions are real, then I will go to the Senate. I cannot say I am firing him”, he said, warning Nigerians to be careful in passing comments and publishing stories on the suspension, which is “sensitive” since FRCN is still investigating the allegations.
On Sanusi’s allegation of unremitted $20bn by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Jonathan recalled that the suspended governor gave conflicting figures before finally settling for $20bn.
“I received calls from all over the world from people asking if such huge amount as $49bn, more than the aid to Africa, could disappear like that”, Jonathan said.
“I don't even know which one to believe anymore. But even if the amount is merely N1, it would be investigated and nobody indicted would go scot-free. I can tell you that no president will be happy to hear that money, no matter how small, disappeared from the treasury of the government”.
Jonathan also recalled that his first query to Sanusi was back in April 2013, hence, the suspension could never have been the consequence of allegations of missing money.
“In societies, we must respect the rule irrespective of whose ox is gored”, he said, before going on to make a case for the amendment of certain parts of CBN act such as the dual role of the governor also heading the board of the bank.
“Last year, the National Assembly wanted to amend the CBN Act, but some wrong signals were sent that government wanted to amend the Act to subject CBN to its control”, he said.
“It was a private member bill. We pleaded with the National Assembly to step it down and they suspended it... There are aspects of the CBN that should be autonomous, but not every aspect. For example, the issue of monetary policy, if the CBN wants to devalue the Naira or strengthen it, you cannot say it doesn’t need to take any permission from anybody. If it wants to change the colour of a naira note, it has to seek my permission”.
The president also spoke on the resurgence of terrorism in the North-East, saying the government has recorded a lot of success that people are ignoring.
“We are working very hard and there are successes, but nobody talks about successes. They only talk about the failures”, he said, noting that the attacks at a time were even staged in the heart of Abuja (such as the bombing of the UN building), but the terrorists have now been pushed to the periphery of north-eastern states.
He also assured that the terrorists would eventually be overcome, saying, “The dialogue thing is still working. I promise Borno communities that we will continue to improve, the issue of Borno State is very unfortunate”.
Answering questions on the source of funding for the centenary celebrations, he said the chunk of the money for the series of events has come from private-sector donations, while the Presidency would only be responsible for the expense of hosting invited heads of states and other national guests.
Speaking on the proposed National Conference, Jonathan said work on the start of the conference has already begun, and was only truncated by the centenary commemoration, which ordinarily should have held back in January.
He revealed that the main officials of the conference — the chairman, the deputy chairman and the secretary — would be announced by 3rd March 2014, while the administrative officer for the conference would be announced thereafter.
“On the 3rd of March, we would announce the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary for the conference before we inaugurate participants later on the 10th. From then they would start work. If there are other changes you would know”, he said.
He also dispelled suggestions that the national conference would primarily address issues relating to Nigeria’s disintegration.
“We are not saying that without the national conference, Nigeria will break. People are just making provocative statements”, he said.
“We won’t allow the disintegration of Nigeria to be debated in the National Conference. The conference is definitely not to prevent disintegration. Nigeria will not disintegrate”.
He revealed that despite all the noise on disintegration, only one person submitted a corrigendum on disintegration to the committee on the national conference, hence disintegration would not be allowed to take the centre stage.
The president refused to discuss his plans to contest the 2015 election, saying the political arena in the country is already too heated for him to be discussing such issue at the media chat. He also attempted to evade questions on governors who decamped to APC from PDP.
“Days of Mr. President or Mr. Governor imposing his will on the people are over. The days where Mr. Governor imposes his will on Nigerians are over. Even if today I am not contesting election, I will make sure I lead my party to victory”, he said.
“I would prefer that we don't go to that area [the subject of the defectors] because I wouldn't want to use this platform to market my party. I believe very clearly, that they are all elected by Nigerians. If a governor moves from party A to party B, he would not carry the people along. It depends on how people assess him, if he has done well for the state or not”.
Jonathan refused to reveal if he would seek re-election in 2015 or not, saying that whatever his response, more problems would be created. Instead, he said, “I will make my decision known at the right time”.
Source: SaharaReporters, New York

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Ondo State House Speaker Samuel Adesina Dies

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Samuel Adesina Ajayi, has died according to sources in the Ondo State house of Assembly.
 The speaker whose absence from the state parliament has been a source of worry for over three months reportedly died last night at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.
 The speaker has been battling with cancer for several month before his death.
 SaharaReporters could not immediately confirm Mr. Adesina's age, as the Ondo State governor's spokesperson Eni Akinsola said he could not confirm the death of the speaker.
The late Adesina represents Odigbo constituency ii in the state house. He is also a member of the Labour Party.
Source: SaharaReporters, New York

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Boko Haram attacks Federal Govt College Yobe, kills 29 students

Men suspected to be members of the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram, in the early hours of today Tuesday Feb 25th launched an attack on students of the Federal Government College Buni-Yadi Yobe state, killing 29 students (or more), Hausa Service BBC reports. Some buildings in the school were also reportedly razed.

Sources at the school said the men invaded the school in the early hours of this morning while the students were still sleeping in their hostels and slaughtered them. Guns were not used in the attack as was the sect's usual practice, probably to avoid the attention of people. They used machetes.

The Federal Government College Buni Yadi is a co-educational institution located some 55km south of Damaturu the Yobe State capital. This is the fourth attack on secondary schools since the inception of the sect members.

 

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Sanusi Suspension Is A Distraction - APC Says

APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed

The All Progressives Congress (APC) accused President Jonathan today of using the Sanusi suspension as a distraction in the investigation over the missing $20 billion in oil funds.
In a statement, APC said instead of discrediting the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Jonathan administration would have been better using the time to investigate the missing oil funds, and the case would have been solved by now.   ''Fortunately, discerning Nigerians are not hoodwinked by the Presidency's choreographed mudslinging against a whistle blower…"
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Malam Lamido Sanusi Lamido claimed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to make payments totally $20 billion to the Federation Account.
Saharareporters broke the story last year releasing a letter sent by Mr. Sanusi to President Goodluck Jonathan about the missing monies.
The revelation led the Nigerian Senate Committee on Finance to hold hearings earlier this month investigating claims about the missing funds.
The APC statement, was issued by the interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and says the party still has questions:
What happened to the missing 20 billion dollars?
If part of the funds were used for kerosene subsidy, as was claimed in the Senate hearings, who authorized the spending of money that was not appropriated, in violation of the nation's constitution?
Who reinstated the subsidy removed by a presidential directive?
If $8.76 billion of the missing money was used for kerosene subsidy, whom and who are the beneficiaries, since Nigerians are not enjoying any subsidy on kerosene for which they are paying at least 150 Naira per litre?
The APC also said Sanusi's suspension was unlawful but if the allegations have validity the federal government should have charged him instead of discrediting him.
They also claim the Jonathan Administration's decision effected the value of the Naira and the general economy, ''These 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."

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Jonathan Witch-hunting Sanusi For Exposing Rot In Nigeria's Oil Sector- Kano Emirate Says

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano

The Kano Emirate Council under its Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero has officially reacted to Thursday sacking of Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi saying it is an abuse of the rule of law and that Federal Government should as a matter sincerity study the situation and apply justice in the matter.
According to the Emirate, Sanusi was being persecuted because he exposed the corruption in Nigeria’s petroleum industry. The Emirate further advised President Goodluck Jonathan   not to personalize issues instead treat all Nigerians with equality and fairness.
The Kano Emirate Council position was contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Tijjani Hashim who is the Galadiman Kano.
The statement titled “Suspension of CBN Governor: Abuse on the Rule of Law”, reads in part:
“As a law abiding organization, we believe that adherence to the rule of law is paramount and important to any government, more importantly a democratically elected government, which preaches total adherence to the rule of law.
“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 and desperation and impunity at the highest order by the Federal Government.
“We and many see the President’s action as a deliberate witch-hunt of the Governor for doing his job by letting Nigerians know the alleged fraud going on in the petroleum industry and to divert people’s attention from this monumental fraud.
  “Despite all the awards and commendations the Governor received nationally and internationally, which Nigerians and even the President are proud of, the significant positive changes to the economy, confidence in depositor’s money and dynamic banking reforms, but it’s unfortunate the Governor will be paid back this way.”
Source: SaharaReporters

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