Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has warned the presidency against further harassment and embarrassment of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over the alleged missing $10.8 billion crude oil funds.
Speaking at an interactive session with reporters at Government House, Kano on Saturday, Kwankwaso stressed that the state would continue to support the CBN governor, a prince from Kano State, as well as provide him adequate protection, where necessary.
Sanusi had reportedly incurred the presidency’s wrath after a memo he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan alerting him about the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC’s refusal to remit about $49.8 billion (N8 trillion) to the federation account, got leaked to the press.
Embarrassed by the public outcry that greeted Sanusi’s letter including reference to the alleged missing money in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s scathing letter to President Jonathan, the CBN governor was reportedly asked to resign.
But Kwankwaso, who spoke in support of Sanusi, said “The villa should understand that the CBN governor is not only the son of Kano but also an important pillar and a major contributor to the survival of Nigeria’s economy”.
According to Kwankwaso, the CBN governor always stands firm by the truth, while performing his official duties, which led to numerous achievements in the nation’s banking sector”.
The Governor’s warning to the presidency came on the heels of the inauguration of the National Tomato Technical Working Committee in Kano by the CBN governor.
“Let me seize this opportunity to warn those in Abuja, especially those in the Villa that they should desist from harassing and embarrassing our citizens, particularly referring to our son, the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
“I hope they should realize that the CBN governor is not an ordinary citizen and I hope that they should also take note of that. And also let me say that we are very proud of him. He is somebody, who is upright, somebody, who is willing to say it as it is, anywhere and at any time and not minding whose ox is gored.
“Let me tell them that we have seen nothing wrong, anybody, who advises leaders, whether the President should check these figures, so as to confirm whether these figures are correct. Such people that make such statements should not be treated as an enemy but should rather be embraced as friends.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to tell the CBN governor that we are very proud of him and will continue to give him all the support and protection, where necessary”.
