From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Coalition of Civil Society Groups, (CCSGs), on Friday, blasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for demanding the resignation of the Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that the opposition party should leave him from its political gimmicks.
Its National President, Etuk Bassey Williams, and Secretary, Abubakar Ibrahim at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, explained that attack on Emefiele was unwarranted as the statement causing ripples as regards the economy was not made by Emefiele.
According to Bassey, “the coalition after an appraisal of the statement credited to Senator Udoedehe, we observed that he neither accused Emefiele of any wrong doing nor implied that the CBN Governor was involved in any infraction; therefore the call for the resignation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele by a highly respected political party is regrettable and most uncharitable.”
He added: “In response to the unguided and unexpected call for CBN Governor’s resignation by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), we consider it pertinent to call for restrain from any form of distraction or political mischief from the PDP.
“This political entanglement with a public institution like the CBN is very unpleasant, uncalled for and should not be entertained by any patriotic Nigeria.
“We frown at the mischievous misrepresentation of the political utterance of the APC Caretaker Secretary: Senator John Udoedehe by the PDP and advice that the political Parties should exempt the CBN Governor and the CBN in general from their political gimmick and concentrate on their political games.
“We hereby call on those who find it profitable to peddle wrong information to stop. This act is unpopular, mischievous, wrongful and should not be associated with a political party that once praised and proudly informed Nigerians that Mr. Godwin Emefiele performed excellently well and did justify the confidence reposed on him by the PDP.”
Meanwhile, Bassey said the “coalition here state emphatically that any act designed to frustrate efforts of Mr. Godwin Emefiele to restore the economy from its downward slope orchestrated by fall and unstable price of crude oil, rejection of our agricultural produce in foreign market, low quality of our industrial good and the advent of Covid-19 pandemic will be opposed.
“We frown and express deep disappointment that some persons or political party will make itself available to unsettle the CBN Governor. No reasonable person will embark on such venture, because it is unpatriotic. We should not be seen creating crisis for an individual/institution making effort to revamp the economy that has witnessed two recessions by no fault of the Governor of CBN.
“In conclusion, we request that we all support Mr. Godwin Emefiele irrespective of creed, party affiliations or ethnicity. There is no doubt that the Governor of CBN and his team will stabilize the naira value of restore the economy.”