Jonathan Lacks Power To Suspend Sanusi – Amaechi

Rivers State governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has faulted the suspension of the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying the President lacked the constitutional powers to do so.

The governor also has called on religious leaders across the country to champion the fight against corruption in the country, saying the church as a body has the responsibility to examine, enlighten, and educate the citizens of the country on the means to ensure that political office holders run accountable and transparent leadership to those who voted them to power.

Amaechi, who spoke on Sunday at Christ Church, Port Harcourt, during a service organized for the Induction of the resident minister and reception of assistant resident ministers, urged religious leaders to as a matter of responsibility hold government accountable.

He said: “You can imagine how President Jonathan announced the sudden removal of the CBN governor. He does not have such powers. He knows that nothing will happen that was why he took that action.”

“So, I think the preachers should begin to preach what we called the liberation theology. You (church leaders) are supposed to have more responsibilities to hold government accountable. I have been trying my best possible to avoid politics in the church but God will not come down to act; we will act on our own.

“While we are talking about the problem and the ways to end religious wars in the country, others are busy stealing our money, may be, they are using it to divert our attention. The issue of the missing 49.8 billion dollars from the Federation account is still there. If you convert that money to naira, you will get 80 trillion Naira, and that money can solve the problem of this country for the next few years.

“And the federal government says they use the money for this and that. But, the constitution says, nobody can tamper with that money; the money must first of all be paid into the federation account before releasing the money, so that Rivers State or Imo State can have their share. But, the Federal Government has gone upfront to collect this money without actually following the due process as stipulated by law.