By Sani Idris
A Civil Society Organisations, Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), has vehemently showered it support to the Department of State Services (DSS) and Rep. Muhammad Gudaji Kazaure's revelation, while calling for investigation of the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.
It could be recall that, in November, the CNF, said there were motives behind the redesigning of some of the denominations of the Nigerian currency, which informed their stand against the policy.
In a statement issued to journalists on Friday in Kaduna by Cmrd. Abdulsalam Kazeem, Spokesperson of the CNF, he recalled that barely a month, many revelations began to spring up to vindicate their earlier claims that the redesigning of the naira denominations was not in the interest of Nigeria but to satisfy the selfish schemes of a few unpatriotic Nigerians.
He lamented that, "t is quite disheartening that even CSOs in the north and others across the nation are already twisting and distorting facts contained in the report by Nigeria's foremost and most credible intelligence agency, the DSS against Mr Godwin Emefiele
"For the records, the service headed and superintended by its DG, Mallam Yusuf Bichi has in the time past thwarted several security breaches with credible intelligence gathering and sharing amongst sister security agencies.
"The DSS under his watch equally issued many advisories in the interest of Nigeria and was fore in the call for calm even when the US had issued an advisory to it's citizens in Nigeria alleging that organized terrorist attacks will soon rock the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
"The DSS equally obtained credible intelligence and issued many warnings and security observations about an impending Prison break attempt in the Kuje Maximum Security Prison.
"The neglect of the intelligence and warnings led to a humiliating prison break that has been an embarrassment to the entire nation till date. To accuse a credible security outfit like DSS of falsifying it's intelligence regarding the activities of Emefiele is unpatriotic,"Kazeem said.
He further lamented that, "at a time when Nigeria is having financial crisis including spiralling inflation and unemployment, it is not curious that the CBN is accused of spending 58.6 billion naira to print 2.5 billion naira notes? Something is not right and the earlier Emefiele and his co-conspirators are made to face the law and answer to these allegations the better.
"The cost of printing money can't be more than the value of the money by almost 500%. Something is not right and must be unraveled. The whole idea of resigning and reprinting may have been a hoax to hoard and launder money without alerting Nigerians,"Kazeem alleged.
He noted that it was important notify 'naysayers' criticising the DSS that, apart from being the number one secret police in Africa, they had been in the forefront of the war against terror and other forms of criminality in the country with astonishing results.
Kazeem stressed that the DSS does not only employ officers, but has also ensured that there were training and retrained and equiped with modern intelligence gathering techniques and know-how.
According to him, that had drastically curbed the myriad security challenges facing Nigeria as a nation.
"We all can bear witness to the reduced spate of kidnappings and terrorist activities in today's Nigeria,"he said.
The Spokesperson therefore called on DSS to ignore and immidatly appealed the federal high court injunction and go ahead with their planned arrest of Mr Emefele since it's in the interest of National security.
*As patriots who wish to always stand on the path of righteousness, we won't takes sides with those calling for the sack of the DSS boss but rather ask that he should be allowed to carry out his duties without interference by anybody especially when it comes to the issue of national security and the general well being of Nigerians.
"Those asking the DG to give details of Emefiele's underhand dealings should know that security is a tactical issues and evidence can't be made public so that criminals won't be alerted and made to destroy evidence,"He said.
The Spokesperson further call on President Buhari to as matter of urgency relieve the CBN Governor, Emefiele of his duties, saying that his character and integrity is already questioned.
"He should be investigated accordingly and with immediate effect. His involvement into partisan politics and the spurious investments he has made even in some Nigerian banks makes him unfit to continue as CBN Governor as this contravenes the CBN Act and other extant laws.
"He should be made to face the charges leveled against him in a competent court of law,"he said.
Furthermore, Kazeem said the allegations by Hon. Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure concerning the misappropriation and diversion of stamp duty funds as well as other financial crimes also required in depth investigation.
"Financial crimes including diversion of public funds as alleged run afoul of President Buhari's anti-corruption posture and must not be tolerated by his appointee no matter how highly placed.
"Emefiele can't be sitting as a CBN Governor while these investigation continue. He needs to step aside to prevent any form of interference and undue influence.
"It is our position that the CBN Governor should turn himself in to the DSS for questioning, possible arrest and detention.
"Failure to do so should be met by a forceful arrest and detention in one of Nigeria's maximum security prison facility. He should forthwith, stop sponsoring faceless goons against the person of the DG of DSS and the Service in general.
"The endless media wars and attacks can only elongate his doomsday but will definitely not save from standing trial and answering to the weighty allegations against him,"Kazeem said.
He called on the DG of DSS to ignore the enemies of Nigeria and focus on the duties given to him by the constitution and President Mohammadu Buhari.
"National security is a serious issue, we can't afford a relapse of insecurity in this country because of mindless distractions. Unraveling the role the CBN under Emefiele is playing in sponsoring terrorism will put paid to the endless and mindless killings and attacks all over the country"Kazeem said.
Tinubu strikes deal with aggrieved PDP governors in London
The governors have reportedly agreed to work with Tinubu.
The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly struck a deal with the five aggrieved governors who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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Earlier in the week, the governors better known as G5 governors had a marathon meeting with Tinubu in the United Kingdom, where the APC candidate lobbied for their endorsement.
The meeting was attended by all the G-5 governors; Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
From Tinubu’s side were, Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar and the former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
However, on Thursday, December 29, 2022, indications emerged that Tinubu was able to win the governors to his side.
According to a source who spoke with Daily Trust, the governors agreed to work with Tinubu.
The source said, “We have agreed to work together with the G5. The agreement rhythm with our desire to forge together a government of national unity.
“When the history of this political epoch is written, the names of Wike, Ortom, Makinde, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu will be written in gold for the courageous decision to place national interest above all other considerations.”
The source also said that the governors would remain in the PDP and work for the actualisation of Tinubu’s presidency.
Another source told the newspaper that Tinubu’s camp and the aggrieved governors are still fine-tuning the modalities of the alliance for the benefit of all parties.
Meanwhile, the PDP had threatened to impose the necessary sanctions on the aggrieved governors if they dump their party’s presidential candidate for another party’s candidate.
The party's spokesman, Debo Ologunagba said the PDP would apply relevant provisions of its constitution when the need arose
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