…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
The Presidency has officially stated that it has no knowledge of President Muhammadu Buhari granting study leave to Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this announcement during a conversation with Daily Trust.
Shehu clarified that his position remains unchanged from a previous statement he made on the matter.
Presidency Uninformed of Study Leave:
Garba Shehu reiterated that if President Buhari had granted study leave to CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, it is unknown to the Presidency and the President’s secretariat, headed by the Chief of Staff.
Shehu’s previous statement, which he referred to, expressed the same sentiment regarding the purported study leave granted to Emefiele.
Allegations and Controversies Surrounding Emefiele:
Amidst allegations of corruption and terrorism financing against Godwin Emefiele, an online news platform, SaharaReporters, claimed that President Buhari had allowed the CBN Governor to take study leave, enabling him to leave Nigeria before the inauguration of President-elect Bola Tinubu on May 29.
The report also mentioned the dissatisfaction of the Department of State Services (DSS) with the potential escape of Emefiele, as they had previously attempted to arrest and detain him over these allegations.
Political Accusations:
In addition to the corruption allegations, Godwin Emefiele, who sought the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was accused by Bola Tinubu of implementing the Naira redesign and cashless policy through the CBN as a means to undermine Tinubu’s own presidential ambitions.
Analysis:
The statement from the Presidency denying any knowledge of President Buhari granting study leave to CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele indicates a lack of official confirmation regarding the reported decision.
This raises questions about the authenticity and credibility of the initial reports.
The allegations of corruption and terrorism financing against Emefiele, as well as the political accusations, add further complexity to the situation.
The absence of clarity surrounding these matters highlights the need for transparent communication from official sources to address and resolve the ongoing controversies.