The Governor of Kano state, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso , on Thursday
chided the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank, (CBN), Mallam
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Kwankwaso said the drama heralding Sanusi’s suspension was a grand plan to
undermie the North and its economic nerve centre—Kano.
Kwankwaso said that the suspension of Sanusi was a grand design to
dislodge Kanawa from the economic and financial decision-making of
Nigeria via the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration, adding
that, in order to further impoverish and marginalize the state.
The Governor also said it was sheer disrespect to the existing laws of the
land and show of ingratitude that a person who has brought about sweeping
positive changes that would have put the nation’s economy on the pedestal
of growth would be treated unfairly.
He said Sanusi should rather be commended for exposing the rot and
corruption in the NNPC. “A responsible government would have promptly
investigated the allegations but they disappointingly refused to do so,”
Kwankwaso said.
While describing the suspension as illegal, null and void, Gov. Kwankwaso
noted that the CBN Act provides that the removal of CBN Governor “shall be
supported by two-third majority of the Senate praying that he be so
removed.”
“Clearly therefore law does not give the President the power to suspend
the CBN Governor without recourse to the Senate. You cannot just trample
on the law with impunity, without recourse to constitutional provisions,”
he said.
The governor further drew analogy from the illegal removal of President of
the Court of Appeal Justice Ayo Salami by President Jonathan.
“In a similar guise of suspension, Justice Salami was removed by the
President and was not reinstated despite his reinstatement by the NJC.
They refused to do so until he attained the retirement age of 70 years,”
he said.
Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has faulted the suspension of the
Governor of the Central Bank (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, saying
that there was an ulterior motive behind the action.
Kwankwaso stated that the suspension was a grand design to dislodge Kanawa
from the economic and financial decision-making agencies of the Federal
government in order to further impoverish and marginalize the state.
The Governor also said it was sheer disrespect to the existing laws of the
land and show of ingratitude that a person who has brought about sweeping
positive changes that would have put the nation’s economy on the pedestal
of growth would be treated unfairly.
He said Sanusi should rather be commended for exposing the rot and
corruption in the NNPC. “A responsible government would have promptly
investigated the allegations but they disappointingly refused to do so,”
Kwankwaso said.
While describing the suspension as illegal, null and void, Gov. Kwankwaso
noted that the CBN Act provides that the removal of CBN Governor “shall be
supported by two-third majority of the Senate praying that he be so
removed.”
“Clearly therefore law does not give the President the power to suspend
the CBN Governor without recourse to the Senate. You cannot just trample
on the law with impunity, without recourse to constitutional provisions,”
he said.
The governor further drew analogy from the illegal removal of President of
the Court of Appeal Justice Ayo Salami by President Jonathan.
“In a similar guise of suspension, Justice Salami was removed by the
President and was not reinstated despite his reinstatement by the NJC.
They refused to do so until he attained the retirement age of 70 years,”
he said.