‘Don’t Make Emefiele A Scapegoat’ – Tunde Bakare To FG

The serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has appealed to the Federal Government not to make the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, a scapegoat.

The cleric, as gathered by Naija News, argued that the suspended CBN boss might have made wrong judgment calls in the management of Nigeria’s monetary policy. Still, he should not be used as a scapegoat.

Bakare, during a State of the Nation broadcast on Sunday addressing recent happenings in the country, opined that events before the 2023 presidential election pointed to the direction of political vendetta against the suspended CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu.

He, however, observed that Emefiele should be prosecuted if found guilty of any crime.

The cleric noted that “Mr Godwin Emefiele may have made the wrong judgment calls in managing Nigeria’s monetary policy, but he must not be made a scapegoat.

“In the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Act 2007, there is every possibility that the erstwhile central bank governor did not act without presidential authorisation.

“If Emefiele is found liable for any crime, by all means, he should be prosecuted. However, considering the dynamics of the pre-election environment and the then-candidate Bola Tinubu’s public allegation that the naira redesign policy was targeted at him, the optics of the president targeting Emefiele for prosecution after winning the election and being sworn in as the president could be interpreted as a form of vendetta far beneath such a distinguished office.” 

Bakare also faulted the Department of State Services (DSS) for their role in Emefiele’s arrest and detention, alleging that their actions had raised concerns over professionalism and adherence to the rule of law.

He further stated, “Considering the claims of the DSS that its actions were in reaction to order from above, handling of Emefiele case has sent a signal to the world that the current president’s disposition to the war against corruption is primarily motivated by the clampdown on the perceived political adversaries, while various other enemies of Nigeria remain untouched.”

This platform recounts that Emefiele has been in the custody of the DSS since June 10, when he was suspended by President Tinubu.

He was on two counts of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.