Former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele
By Sadiq Muhammed
The scapegoating of individuals can be amusing. I read on Mr. Bayo Onanuga’s X page that the authorization for the redesign of the Naira was attributed to Tunde Sabiu, and I immediately thought that if this were true, it would reflect poorly on President Buhari himself. It’s common knowledge that the President acknowledged the redesign.
However, upon reading the report on page 30, it stated, and I quote, “On 6th October, Emefiele wrote to Buhari seeking approval to redesign and reconfigure 1000, 500, 200, and 100 Naira notes. Buhari approved the proposal the same day.”
The amusing part about this issue is that Mr. Onanuga and his associates, along with whoever sponsors that campaign, seem to think that we don’t use our heads. Another aspect of the report claims that $171 billion was stolen by Emefiele. You know there is a lack of critical thinking when people believe Emefiele stole $171 billion! Nobody is saying Emefiele is not corrupt, but stealing even one-quarter of that figure is almost impossible – to right-thinking people, that is. The more you try to explain the enormity, value, and impossibility of stealing $171 billion, the more they display their gullibility in different ways.
My advice to President Tinubu is to exercise caution in dealing with things like this. In the process of desperately trying to get at some perceived enemies, things may backfire.
This is a democracy, not a military junta, and Tinubu, of all people, should know that people will ask questions. There are a lot of gray areas in the report, and if the report and its recommendations are to be taken seriously, President Buhari cannot be exonerated. I’m not speaking on behalf of Mr. Emefiele; these are my personal opinions.
Muhammed wrote from Abuja and can be reached at [email protected]
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.