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There are indications that the crisis brewing within the All Progressives Congress Congress may   lead to the suspension or expulsion of several prominent members of the party who are currently perceived as working against its interestIt was learnt that some of the prominent members including   former governors may be shown the way out of the party if they continue to resist the take-over of the opposition party’s structures by the   G-5 governors who recently defected from the People’s Democratic Party.

A reliable source within the National Secretariat   of the party who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on condition of anonymity said the thinking within the leadership of the party is that the G-5 governors must be allowed to take over structures of the party in the affected states to enable them   provide the funds to strengthen the APC for the 2015 elections.

The G-5 governors who defected from the PDP were Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto..

The source asked: “ Do you think   former Governors   Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano,   Bafarawa of Sokoto   or   rtd. Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa of Adamawa have the capacity to win elections in those states now? “
He continued: “We know that some of these people are PDP agents who want to sabotage APC from inside by causing all types of crisis”.

When reminded that most of the defected   governors would complete their second tenure by 2015 and may therefore not have much at stake during the forth-coming   polls, he said : “ If APC doesn’t win the states where the G-5 governors are currently in power, it means they would be politically finished. So they would surely throw in their resources to ensure that APC wins in their states to enable them   be in a vantage position to pursue their   future political career”.

”Who told you that some of them don’t have presidential ambition?” he asked.

The source however expressed confidence that the crisis would be resolved just like the various opposition parties were able to overcome all their differences and merge.

Said he: “ When political battles are fought, it is either you   win,   lose and   leave or reconcile”.

It would be recalled that the G-5 governors defected after reportedly   reaching an agreement with the leadership of APC that the party’s structures in the five states would be handed over to them.

However, since they defected they have faced stiff resistance from prominent members of the party   especially former governors in their attempt to take over APC structures in the affected states.

When contacted by phone yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party Alhaji Lai Mohammed dismissed certain media reports about the crisis as the handiwork of the PDP.

He admitted that the party was aware of the disagreement within some state chapters of the party but said a National Reconciliation Committee had been set up to handle the situation

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Anambra State Sports fraternity have charged the newly elected governor of the State Chief Willie Obiano not to deviate from the  sports developmental policies of Governor Peter Obi as he prepares to take over the mantle of leadership in March 2014, reports Ojieva Ehiosun

The leader of a group know as Sports for All in 2014 in Anambra state in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Mazi,Chizoba Odinamba, made this charge at the NEROS Stadium Nanka  at the just concluded youth tournament.
According to him: “ I  want to use this medium to thank Governor Peter Obi for his sports development programme in the state and for the construction of many stadia in the state. We also want to appeal to the newly elected governor Chief Willie Obiano to let continuity be his slogan of development in the state especially in sports.  For the past six years, we have experienced rapid growth in sports in Anambra state.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Rivers APC Hails National Leadership Move to Block All Executive Bills

*Says it is the Beginning of the End of Undemocratic and Impunity Acts of Jonathan’s Govt. and PDP

Interim Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Davies Ikanya, has hailed the decision of the party’s National leadership to frontally confront the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dr. Ikanya was reacting to the directive given by the APC interim National Executive Committee (NEC) after its 8^th regular meeting of 23^rd January, 2014 in Abuja, to members of the party in the National Assembly to henceforth shoot down any executive bill from the Presidency including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of the appointment of Service Chiefs as well as Ministers until constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State and the nation in general in a statement issued in Port Harcourt described the directive as a masterstroke by the APC interim National Executive Committee.

“With this decision by APC, let us now see which party is the majority in Nigeria and how the Presidency, which has in connivance with the PDP leadership frustrated all attempts by APC as the new majority party to assume its rightful position by taking over the position of House Majority Leader, among other important leadership positions in the House of Representatives, can function effectively,” Ikanya said.

Dr Ikanya condemned the brazen manner in which the rights of citizens of Rivers State was being breached by persons and institutions saddled with the responsibility of protecting them and stated that such undemocratic acts from CP Joseph Mbu who has usurped the office of the Governor of Rivers State as the Military Administrator and the Sole Administrator of PDP is no longer acceptable.

The Rivers State APC Interim Chairman described the Jonathan administration and the party that produced it as lawless and obstinate, accusing them of having broken modern records in the perpetration of impunity.

According to Dr. Ikanya, “From Rivers State, which they have virtually made ungovernable, to the National Assembly, where they have also exported their lawlessness, PDP and the Jonathan Presidency has showed beyond every reasonable doubt that the only language they understand is force. With this minimal force being applied by APC to restore sanity in the polity, Rivers State, reclaim its right in the National Assembly, grow our democracy and promote constitutionalism in our nation, PDP will be forced to wake up to the reality that it will no longer take the plight of our nation for granted and that it is no longer the majority party as that position is now occupied by the APC.”

The Rivers State APC Interim Chairman acknowledged that the party’s new position would inevitably lead to some form of hardship as it may delay the passage of the 2014 Budget on time. He however appealed to Nigerians to accept this as a necessary sacrifice which has to be made to rescue the country’s fledgling democracy because “there cannot be gain if there is no pain.

“We will not allow President Jonathan who has single handedly ruined PDP and governance in Rivers State to ruin our fledgling democracy, enough to his acts of impunity. Mr. President can still retrace his steps and toe the path of honour, integrity, constitutionalism and democratic norms or continue with the infamy and impunity acts associated with his government that will surely consume us all. The choice is Mr. President’s! Dr Ikanya concluded.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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We Are Still In PDM, Chief Eze Lied – Rivers PDM

The Rivers State Chapter of the People Democratic Movement (PDM) Party Chairmen Forum says their attention has been drawn to a recent publication by one Chief Eze .C. Eze, spokesman  to the APC chairman in Rivers State alleging that the “APC has swallowed the PDM” in Rivers State.

The party noted in press statement said, “We hereby state categorically that the purported story is untrue, totally unfounded, baseless, mischievous, an errant nonsense and a figment of the writer’s imagination geared towards misleading the general public.

“We therefore call on our members in the state and the general public to disregard the said publication. We also use this medium to call on the leadership of the ALL PROGRESS CONGRESS (APC) in the state to call to order their “spin doctor” Chief Eze .c. Eze whose stock in trade is to peddle lies and misinform the general Public and Rivers people in particular.

“Finally, we wish to call on our members in the various wards in the 23 L.G.As to be steadfast in their mobilization and sensitization efforts in the on-going membership registration exercise and the forthcoming congresses.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Prince Tonye Princewill has described as childish the All Progressives Congress (APC) to their members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 budget, and screening of the newly nominated ministerial candidates.

Mr Tonye Princewill noted in a statement today through his spokesman on Media and Publicity, Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu that this latest move was not unconnected to the current crisis rocking Rivers State.

“Quite childish, it is obvious that if this order is carried out, Nigeria’s economy and developmental strides will take a nose dive. Has dialogue been exhausted, is Rivers case not a case of APC looking for a fight when nobody is listening? What about the deaths in the South West. APC, has it really come to this? Princewill questioned.

Princewill who joined majority of Nigerians to frowned at this move by the official opposition, comdemned what he called an attempt by the APC to “Shut down the Country”. “No man, woman or group of people has the right to threaten the stability of Nigeria. This is what this is.”, Princewill insisted. He highlighted the activities of last year, when the Republicans in the US tried to use their strength to hold the country ransom. The repercussions of that move were obviously not in their favor, as the public came out in mass to reject the move. Citizens openly vowed never to vote for the party again, because of how immature their plans were. He predicted that the same will happen here.

“Why is the National APC crying more than the bereaved.”, Princewill said. He pointed to the past when the Rivers State police force was used to witch hunt, oppress and unlawfully harass the opposition. “Walk on the streets of Port Harcourt or through the markets in town and enquire. You’ll find out that they are happy with the current neutrality of the police”. Recently in Rivers State a GDI planned rally was prevented by the police, for undisclosed reasons; this gives reason to Princewill’s claims. Under Mbu crime and kidnapping have come down and APC rallies aside, people are oblivious of the drama.

 
Prince Tonye Princewill advised the leadership of the APC to have a rethink, and retract their orders. “I have worked with the then Action Congress and I know that there are still some good people in there; they should rise above the crowd and correct this impending mistake. “Solomon In the bible was one of the wisest men who ever lived. He was faced with a challenge; two women claiming one baby. Eventually the baby was to be cut in two, but destiny intervened. We all know the story and it was very clear who deserved the baby”. Only a regionalist or one occupied by self-interest brings a country to its knees. “Speaking of Solomon, nothing could be more appropriate to say now than STOP – a word is enough for the wise.” Princewill concluded.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, warned that Nigeria’s economy will be greatly endangered if the independence of the apex bank was undermined. In an interview with Bloomberg Television Africa, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sanusi said maintaining the independence of the bank will be a major challenge that his successor will have to contend with, saying that it is important for a strong individual to be appointed to head the bank, due to the critical role it plays in the development of the country. He said, “Any undermining of the CBN’s independence may hurt the economy. If anyone tampers with it, the markets would punish the economy. “The CBN is a very strong institution that needs a strong leader and I think one of the things we have achieved over the last four or five years is to show that we can have an independent Central Bank in Africa. “It is extremely important from the fiscal side, it is extremely important from the governance side, that the governor of the Central Bank is able to speak independently of political authority and raise an alarm and concerns, and give constructive criticism and advice.” In another interview with Reuters Global Markets Forum, Sanusi ruled out further devaluation of the currency, saying that the apex bank would continue to pursue a stable exchange rate policy as long as the foreign reserves can support. He further expressed concern about Nigeria’s dwindling Excess Crude Account, saying that its ability to successfully protect the naira will be based on the amount in the Excess Crude Account and the Foreign Exchange Reserve. According to him, a stable currency is absolutely critical for price stability and financial stability in general, adding that it is not in the interest of the country to devalue the naira, because it will not have impact on the country’s current account balance, given the highly inelastic nature of imports and the dominance of oil. He said the Excess Crude Account, ECA, had now fallen to just $2.5 billion, compared with $11.5 billion a year ago, noting that until it is replenished there would be little room for a reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, below the current 12 per cent benchmark. He said: “We should continue to seek a stable exchange rate for as long as the reserves and monetary conditions can support this.” Sanusi said he has no fears of tightening monetary policy further to keep inflation down and to stabilize the currency, noting that, if needed, the CBN will increase its Monetary Policy Rate from 12 per cent and the Cash Reserve Requirement on public sector funds to 100 per cent. He added that: “I don’t think we are at the end of possible tightening cycles, but I do think that the scope for further tightening is getting narrower and narrower. We do need to rely more on other instruments.” He said the CBN will maintain inflation within a band of six per cent to nine per cent this year, controlled majorly by monetary conditions. He said, “Government spending has not been huge, the real challenge has been on the revenue side and on the foreign exchange side. I see no reason why from 2015, Nigeria cannot move to within the range of South Africa’s three percent to six percent, or four percent to seven percent for inflation.” Sanusi further stated that he was unconcerned by personal relationships, saying that, “We meet at work and people should do their job. I do hope that the president will be happy if I do the job very well.” Sanusi had over the years as CBN Governor, made a number of controversial statements, drawing the ire of the members of the National Assembly and the executive arm of government, when he commented on the pay package of the legislators and asked questions on the finances of the country, respectively. It came to an head, when in September last year, he wrote a letter to the Presidency, alleging that about $49.8 billion of the country’s crude oil money has not been remitted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to the Federation Account over a 19-month period. The NNPC denied insinuations made by the CBN Governor in the letter, saying Sanusi is ignorant of the operations of the oil and gas sector and also playing politics with the issue. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called a joint press conference with the Minster for Petroleum Resources and the CBN to explain the controversial figure and it was established after a reconciliation meeting that it was not $49.8 billion that had not paid into the Federation Account but $10.8 billion. However, a few days into 2014, it was reported that the Presidency, angered by Sanusi’s decision to allegedly leak contents of his letter to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, asked him to resign, a request that he turned down, saying that he can not be forced out of office until June, when his tenure is expected to elapse.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Thousands of people across the world who would either be non-Muslims or Muslims who ordinarily do not wear the hijab will be decked in it on the 1st of February, 2014 in solidarity with the “hijabis” world-over. This annual solidarity event tagged the World Hijab Day (WHD) seeks to create better understanding and awareness of the Muslim head cover at a time when the hijab has seen great assault, and when modesty of covering up is being ridiculed or associated with oppression and backwardness. The event will also highlight the fact that the hijab is religiously mandated, and that millions of Muslim women are making the free choice to follow God’s legislation. Many Nigerian Muslim women will mark the occasion of the WHD to reflect on the prevailing situation; the unwarranted hostility and discrimination they and their daughters have to suffer for making the free choice to put a piece of cloth on their heads. The hostility and discrimination that manifest in various places, at workplace, in schools and sadly in the official quarters. Many Nigerian Muslim women endure untold hardship as a price to meet their religious needs concerning the head cover. On October 28, 2013, the Nigerian embassy in Washington DC denied a Muslim sister in hijab (head cover) who had gone for a biometrics appointment necessary to replace her Nigerian passport any service on the basis that she had to expose her ears. Even when the victim informed the attendant that she was wearing the hijab for religious purpose and as such could not expose her ears, an immigration attaché at the embassy intervened and insisted that the victim had to “because it is the law of Nigeria that ears must show”. Interestingly, the way and manner the victim donned her hijab at the Nigerian embassy in Washington was the exact way she looks every day – commonsense would have made it the best form of identifying her in her hijab whenever she carries the passport. This disturbing example fits into a pattern that is replicated at almost every immigration centre and other government agencies in the country. Thousands of Muslim applicants of Nigerian passport, the drivers license applicants and other forms of ID cards are being harassed to “show your ears” or to totally remove their hijab by state officials claiming to be enforcing the “law of the land”. Officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Nigeria and their counterparts in several other government agencies remain obstinate and maintain that they are enforcing a “law of the land” none of them has been able to produce for verification. Perhaps some of them assume there is such a law since no one above them has deemed it fit to clarify the official policy and create a better understanding of the Nigerian law as it pertains to the work they do. On-going request to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Interior to clarify policies regarding the use of hijab in passport taken for ID purpose have met with complete silence. Sadly, heads of the affected government agencies had ignored earlier requests sent directly to them, in a show of lack of sensitivity or sense of responsibility. Of course, official clarification and pronouncements would have stopped the needless miseries that many Muslim women continue to go through. The total abandon of responsibility on the part of the senior officials at these services on this issue is clearly responsible for the continued misbehaviour of the officials who are let loose on the hapless Muslim women. If they are employing world-class standards and best practices to run the services, it will be easier and better to find unambiguous guidelines published on the websites of these services. The equivalent of our own immigration service in the UK, in the United States and in Australia (all secular democracies) have user-friendly and clear guidelines which show that hijab (with ears covered) is allowed for passport and visa application. More importantly, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards which the Nigerian machine readable passport complies to specifically spell out that head covering for religious purpose is acceptable. As more people step into the shoes of the “hijabis” on the 1 st of February, they will see how securing freedom of religious expression serves compelling national interests. The goodwill and flexibility in meeting both the religious needs of the Muslim women and the legitimate needs of those service providers cannot be mutually exclusive. One wonders if Catholic nuns are asked to remove their habit or show their ears when taking pictures for ID purpose at the immigration centres, at the Nigerian Identity Management Commission, the driver licence issuing centres (FRSCN), etc – or is this just a “Muslim thing?”. The testimonies of many past participants of the World Hijab Day will help us to better understand that it takes more than lectures and reading to share the experience and real commitment of those wearing the shoes in any situation. Female staff and pupils at Pleckgate High School, Blackburn UK decided to step into the shoe and wore the headscarf last year. A participating teacher of the school had this to say: “A lot of the girls at the school already wear a hijab, and we have one as part of the school uniform. I asked the head if we could ask all the girls to take part and around a third did. We also had a number of staff take part. I think World Hijab Day helps us to understand how Muslim women feel about their beliefs and faith. “A lot of the girls were excited about taking part and many saw it as a fashionable thing and quite light hearted, while still getting the message across.” Pleckgate High School is a public funded school, and prides itself on the value it attaches to diversity. It will be nice to get our public officials into the same mindset and make our public schools establish and promote a policy that would make every child priceless and valued equally – where every child feels truly included. As it stands, existing policy in Lagos State for instance effectively bars any Muslim female student wearing the hijab. Of course, the policy of discrimination sends a strong message of exclusion to all Muslims and non-Muslims of conscience, posterity will surely remember this period as a strange time when a state forbids education to a child unless the child violates the tenet of her faith. Sadly, Muslim students in public schools of similar ages as those depicted in the Pleckgate High School story above will finish their education in Lagos State with memories of bias, exclusion and discrimination. Perhaps the greatest lesson we all can take from event like this is that we actually do not know enough until we take the courage to step into other people’s shoes. As the organizers of the event stated on the need for a day like this: It will be a day for everyone willing to experience what it’s like to step inside the shoes of a Hijabi. Our hopes are no less than that. – See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/lessons-world-hijab-day/#sthash.xN1CB3Zx.dpuf

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Abuja—The first set of Made in Nigeria 4×4  SUVs will be rolled out by Nissan Motors in April this year.

Chief Executive Officer of Nissan Motors, Carlos Ghosn, disclosed this to President Goodluck Jonathan on the sideline of ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Ghosn, who said the vehicles would be rolled out of the old Volkswagen Assembly plant in Lagos, noted it was possible to produce two to three million cars in Nigeria annually.

According to him, this will lead to creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the country.

He also told President Jonathan that Nissan intended to increase its investment in Nigeria and establish its own production plant in the country.

“We are interested in producing popular cars , totally adapted to the needs of Nigerians,” Ghosn told the President, adding that the company also planned to bring its global suppliers to make vehicle components in the country.

In his remarks, President Jonathan reiterated that the diligent implementation of the country’s new national automotive policy would rapidly develop Nigeria’s automobile industry

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Nigeria’s economy in danger without CBN autonomy — sanusi

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, warned that Nigeria’s economy will be greatly endangered if the independence of the apex bank was undermined.

CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

In an interview with Bloomberg Television Africa, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sanusi said maintaining the independence of the bank will be a major challenge that his successor will have to contend with, saying that it is important for a strong individual to be appointed to head the bank, due to the critical role it plays in the development of the country.

He said, “Any undermining of the CBN’s independence may hurt the economy. If anyone tampers with it, the markets would punish the economy.

“The CBN is a very strong institution that needs a strong leader and I think one of the things we have achieved over the last four or five years is to show that we can have an independent Central Bank in Africa.

“It is extremely important from the fiscal side, it is extremely important from the governance side, that the governor of the Central Bank is able to speak independently of political authority and raise an alarm and concerns, and give constructive criticism and advice.”

In another interview with Reuters Global Markets Forum, Sanusi ruled out further devaluation of the currency, saying that the apex bank would continue to pursue a stable exchange rate policy as long as the foreign reserves can support.

He further expressed concern about Nigeria’s dwindling Excess Crude Account, saying that its ability to successfully protect the naira will be based on the amount in the Excess Crude Account and the Foreign Exchange Reserve.

According to him, a stable currency is absolutely critical for price stability and financial stability in general, adding that it is not in the interest of the country to devalue the naira, because it will not have impact on the country’s current account balance, given the highly inelastic nature of imports and the dominance of oil.

He said the Excess Crude Account, ECA, had now fallen to just $2.5 billion, compared with $11.5 billion a year ago, noting that until it is replenished there would be little room for a reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, below the current 12 per cent benchmark.

He said: “We should continue to seek a stable exchange rate for as long as the reserves and monetary conditions can support this.”

Sanusi said he has no fears of tightening monetary policy further to keep inflation down and to stabilize the currency, noting that, if needed, the CBN will increase its Monetary Policy Rate from 12 per cent and the Cash Reserve Requirement on public sector funds to 100 per cent.

He added that: “I don’t think we are at the end of possible tightening cycles, but I do think that the scope for further tightening is getting narrower and narrower. We do need to rely more on other instruments.”

He said the CBN will maintain inflation within a band of six per cent to nine per cent this year, controlled majorly by monetary conditions.

He said, “Government spending has not been huge, the real challenge has been on the revenue side and on the foreign exchange side. I see no reason why from 2015, Nigeria cannot move to within the range of South Africa’s three percent to six percent, or four percent to seven percent for inflation.”

Sanusi further stated that he was unconcerned by personal relationships, saying that, “We meet at work and people should do their job. I do hope that the president will be happy if I do the job very well.”

Sanusi had over the years as CBN Governor, made a number of controversial statements, drawing the ire of the members of the National Assembly and the executive arm of government, when he commented on the pay package of the legislators and asked questions on the finances of the country, respectively.

It came to an head, when in September last year, he wrote a letter to the Presidency, alleging that about $49.8 billion of the country’s crude oil money has not been remitted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to the Federation Account over a 19-month period.

The NNPC denied insinuations made by the CBN Governor in the letter, saying Sanusi is ignorant of the operations of the oil and gas sector and also playing politics with the issue.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, called a joint press conference with the Minster for Petroleum Resources and the CBN to explain the controversial figure and it was established after a reconciliation meeting that it was not $49.8 billion that had not paid into the Federation Account but $10.8 billion.

However, a few days into 2014, it was reported that the Presidency, angered by Sanusi’s decision to allegedly leak contents of his letter to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, asked him to resign, a request that he turned down, saying that he can not be forced out of office until June, when his tenure is expected to elapse.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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