The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday expressed his regret for not signing a warrant for the arrest of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Gbajabiamila also said that the House would have no option but to reconvene before this month’s general elections if the CBN failed to address the current challenges being faced by Nigerians because of the currency swap policy.
He said the House would continue to monitor the CBN’s implementation of the policy closely after the Green Chamber’s meeting with Emefiele on the issue.
Gbajabiamila said this while speaking during a town hall meeting with some ethnic groups in Surulere, Lagos.
“The House of Representatives intervened on several occasions. We summoned the CBN governor the first time and again, but he refused to answer because we had many hard questions for him,”he said
“It was until I issued the threat of warrant of arrest before he came, and I would have signed that warrant; it would have been the first time in the history of the National Assembly that a CBN governor would be arrested. I would have done it.
“Many have argued on the independence of CBN, the autonomy of CBN. That does not make CBN above the law. The constitution gives the House the power to issue an arrest warrant against anyone, we can summon anybody, and that was exactly what the House was going to do until the CBN governor came.
“So, we’re watching, and we’re monitoring very closely. If need be, we’ll reconvene the House, even though we have all been away for our elections. I’ll call the House back if need be.”
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Speaking further, Gbajabiamila said that amidst the ongoing hardship, the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified with Nigerians and faulted the implementation of the policy at this time, which necessitated the extension of the deadline for the collection of the old currency.
“On the currency swap, let me explain something to you. We are all very intelligent people. Many are suffering, we have paid your salary, and you cannot withdraw it; people cannot eat, what kind of thing is that?
“But I have news for you. There’s one man who is running for president of this country, and that man has courage and audacity. This man came out boldly and identified the problem, that the fifth columnists, in cooperation with the PDP are the ones trying to sabotage this election.
“Many have said he’s talking about Buhari, but he told them ‘no, I’m not talking about Buhari; I’m talking about fifth columnists.’ If you don’t know the meaning of fifth columnists, go and check your dictionary. Fifth columnists infiltrate people, they even infiltrate families, otherwise how do you explain this type of policy?
“The president, being a compassionate person that he is, has asked for a few more days to look at everything that is going on and see if anything could change. We pray that things will change. If nothing changes, we will intervene again, but be sure of one thing: that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands with you and stands with Nigerians in their suffering.
“He was the first to shout that what is going on? He has cried, he has begged, he has screamed that people are suffering, what did the PDP candidate say? He said, ‘no, CBN don’t listen to them; you must not extend this thing; let people continue to suffer.’ That is what the PDP candidate said. He said it publicly.
He added, “So, you have the tale of two presidential candidates: one who stands with the people and says this currency swap must stop; the second one says,’ no, it cannot stop, it’s a good policy. CBN, don’t listen to him. Let the people continue to suffer.’ I leave the rest to you to determine who is with you and who is against you.”
The town hall meeting had APC Lagos Central Senatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, APC state assembly candidate, Surulere 1, Lagos, Hon. Desmond Elliot, Surulere Council Chairman, Hon Bamidele Suleiman Yusuf, leaders and members of the Ndigbo community, South-South assembly and Arewa community in Surulere and many other stakeholders in attendance.