‘Nigeria on autopilot’ – Rights group knocks Buhari as CBN Gov, Emefiele picks N100m APC form

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has expressed shock that President Muhmadu Buhari allowed the Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele to join the 2023 presidential race while still in office.

PulseNets had reported that the incumbent governor of the apex bank obtained the N100 million presidential nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday.

Several concerned Nigerians, who were angered by the move, had called on the CBN governor to quickly resign his position and focus on his presidential ambition.

Speaking with PulseNets in Abuja, the HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko blamed leadership of the country for the development, saying Nigeria is on autopilot.

According to him, it is the first time in history that political appointees, particularly Ministers and the CBN Governor would be declaring to succeed their boss without considering resignation.

Onwubiko, who lamented the hardship Nigerians are going through at the moment, called on all citizens to wake-up from their slumber, saying the nation is about to collapse.

He said, “Nigerians are not really concerned about the political happenings in the country. What really matters to them now is how to put food on their table. It is a big mistake that citizens would be concerned with what to eat and not the quality of governance in their country.

“Has it ever happened that a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria publicity declared that he wants to succeed his boss and goes ahead to obtain a nomination form at a cost that has never been known in the world?

“First time in history, a Central Bank Governor who is supposed to be a regulator of financial institutions is actively involved in politics. The CBN governor is expected to be neutral in political affairs.

“How can the CBN governor purchase N100 million form to run for presidency and still be sitting in his position? This is the height of it, it is unacceptable.

“The people of Nigeria are paying you to stay in office and you are using their time to advance your personal political interest. This shows that Nigeria currently has no leader. The county is on autopilot.

“Let me call on Nigerians that the earlier we wake up from our slumber, the better, because the house is about to collapse on our head just because we are chasing food to eat”.