Conflicting reactions have continued to trail the threat issued by members of the House of Representatives to invoke the relevant sections of the constitution that allow for the warrant of arrest of the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr Goodwin Emefiele and other Chief Executive Officers, CEOs of other banks consequent upon their lackadaisical disposition towards appearing before the ad hoc committee raised to address the lingering deadline on withdrawal of old naira notes.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who issued the threat at Thursday plenary when the ad hoc committee chairman, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa reported that Emefiele and the bank Chiefs failed to attend the meeting slated for Wednesday due to late arrival of the invitation letter.
The committee chairman had reported to the House that a communication received from the CBN Liaison officer states that bureaucracy would not allow him to work on the invitation letter expeditiously. But the Speaker had also stated that a letter received from the CBN disclosed that Emefiele had travelled to Dakar, the Republic of Senegal with President Mohammedu Buhari who was on official visit to that country.
However, a cross section of Nigerians criticized the speaker for issuing such threat to the CBN Governor. Conversely, others expressed dismay over the disposition of Emefiele over his insistence on the January 31 deadline for expiration of the old naira notes.
Excerpts:
*Prince* *Gab*
Emefiele is stretching his luck too far. “It’s dangerous for someone in hiding to cough.” Not making new naira notes available, amounts to stealing from the poor who work legally in a cash and carry economy of ours. As it is, considering the insecurity in the land, shortages of banks in most of our rural areas and inefficiencies in the banking system, Nigerians need not less than six months to successfully complete the exchange of this ill timed naira redesign. Emefiele is living in a parallel world, and seems not care about the consequences of his abuses on the economy. The DSS is watching.
*Tanko* *Halls*
When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffer. I advise that both Emefiele and Gbajabimila should sheath their swords in order to allow reason prevail. The Nigerian mass cannot afford to be going through pains at the expense of their altercation.
*Edwin* *Ogoro*
Nigerians should be prepared for the worst. This is a repeat of currency in 1984. Though, I must admit that the reason this time is more cogent. I’m quite sure that normalcy would return after the general elections. Vote buying and selling would be drastically reduced to the barest minimum in the forthcoming elections. It would be difficult for politicians to position bullion vans stuffed with the nation’s currency in their homes. I come in piece!
*Alaska* *Joe*
The average Nigerians would definitely bore the brunt of all these shenanigans we are currently experiencing. Those in the rural areas would be worse hit by the exercise. It’s obvious that from beginning, the leadership has been the root cause of all our problems in this country.
*Koko* *Bab*
This Gbaja is a fool, making empty threats. Is he not aware that even Buhari said that the January 31 deadline would not be extended? Does he not know that it’s part of the design to cripple “Thiefnubu”, the master rigist? Abegi ! You are one of the tribalist supporting Tinubu. Make we hear word.
