By David Lawani, Cross Udo, Deborah Onyofufeke (Abuja), and Oludamisi Ojo (Akure)
A climax. Words of defiance. Those were the dramatic summary points yesterday when President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s governor, Godwin Emefiele, to resign from office over his intention to run for the nation’s presidency in 2023.

The President’s directive came via a circular yesterday that asked multiple categories of public officeholders seeking different elective positions in next year’s general elections to resign immediately and concentrate on their endeavors, according to a statement issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

Mustapha said ministers, heads of extra-ministerial departments, and political office holders, amongst other categories, have been asked to step down before May 16.

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As a result of the directive, several ministers and political officeholders eyeing primaries later this month have already resigned from office over the past 24 hours, and many more are expected to stand down before the end of the week.

Emefiele earlier rejected calls to step down and protect the independence and impartiality of the central bank. He opted not to back down from calls to resign, throwing darts about ‘enjoying people having a heart attack’ of his continuous stay in office.

On the contrary, he activated his presidential nomination attempt in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), filing a lawsuit asking a federal judge to declare him suitable to run for president while serving as CBN governor.

It was unclear whether or not Buhari had the powers to order Emefiele’s resignation or dismissal, because the CBN Act emphasises the independence of CBN from external influence.

But in 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Lamido Sanusi as CBN governor. Although the decision was deemed highly controversial, it was never invalidated by the courts.

*’I’m enjoying the heart attack of some people over my issue,’ he says, after meeting with Buhari

The embattled CBN governor yesterday met with Buhari at the State House in Abuja. He promised that Nigerians will soon hear from him on his next line of action.

According to him, “There is no news now, but there will be news. You heard me, I said there is no news but there will be news.”

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When further told that the international community, as well as Nigerians, are interested in his position as regards the presidential directive, the CBN governor said he was not bothered by their concern, and that he was having fun while those concerned are free to have a heart attack.

He said, “Let them have a heart attack, it’s good to have a heart attack. I am having a lot of fun.

Emefiele has every reason to be ‘hopeful’. It would be recalled that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had on Wednesday said that the President, while giving the order to cabinet members that have any ambition to contest election to resign, also said that anyone that needs any clarification should meet him.

Although the agenda of his closed-door meeting with the President was not made public, when asked about his reaction to the President’s directive that appointees interested in the 2023 election should resign, Emefiele said though he had no news for the reporters, there would be news later.

Emefiele signed off with a killer, telling his traducers that “they will have heart failure”.

•Reactions to Buhari’s order

Meanwhile, the President’s order calling on political appointees to resign their appointments before contesting the election has attracted reactions from stakeholders in Ondo State.

An Ikun-Akoko community leader and retired Anglican cleric, Foluso Ogunsuyi, said the President has just done what could make an average Nigerian have confidence in his integrity as the father of the nation.

According to him, the ministers and other appointees vying for new elective positions morally deserve to resign to have level playing grounds for other aspirants.

A political analyst, Ladi Bello commended Buhari for not condoning ‘the double standard in the issue of resignation before APC primaries for all ministers and political aides.

Bello urged Nigerians not to support politicians because of money, religion and tribe rather they should consider those that can bail the nation out from the myriads of challenges we are passing through.

A legal practitioner and public affairs commentator, Bayo Awe was not happy over conflicting court judgments and orders concerning the 2023 elections.

Awe noted that for political office holders to resign before he or they contested for elected positions was in order.

•The CBN governor’s legal argument

Emefiele had on Monday lost his bid at the Federal High Court in Abuja to secure an order to back his presidential ambition.

He had approached the court to restrain the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister for Justice from preventing him from running for the presidency in the forthcoming general election billed for February 2023

The apex bank governor applied for an order of status quo ante bellum against the INEC and the AGF so as not to be made to resign from office until 30 days after the general election.

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Specifically, he argued that by being a public servant, he cannot be barred from participating in the political primaries of political parties by Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, who presided over the case, ordered Emefiele to put the defendants on notice and serve court processes on the defendants and ordered them to appear before him on May 12 (Thursday) to show cause why the request should not be granted.

However, during the sitting yesterday, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja received a joinder of the PDP and two others in the suit by Emefiele seeking to enforce his right by running in the 2023 presidential election without resigning.

Arguing the motion for maintenance of the status quo, Emefiele’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that Emefiele “is in a dilemma” as to whether he can run in the forthcoming presidential election.

According to Ozekhome, time is of utmost importance, following the fact that the timeline for the collection of nomination and expression of interest forms ended on Wednesday, May 11.

Ozekhome, in addition, told the court that the timeline for the primaries and congresses of political parties have been fixed for May 30 to June 1 and unless the court intervened there will be a carriage of great injustice against his client.

“He needs the protection of the court, the court needs to ensure that nobody does anything that will hurt him”, Ozekhome submitted, adding that if the court refused to grant the order for maintenance of status quo restraining the defendants from hindering Emefiele from participating in the primary election under a political party of his choice within this period, the case would amount to a mere academic exercise by the time parties return to the court.

However, when the matter was called upon today, both INEC and AGF were in court in line with the court’s order. Two other lawyers who weren’t in the case, stood up to announce appearances for their clients.

The first was a SAN, Chief Sebastiane Hon, who informed the court of his intention of his client, the PDP to join as an interested party, while another one John Martins and Olukunle Ebun, told the court that they are suing for themselves and on behalf of a civil society group called Save Nigeria our Fatherland.

Ozekhome, however, did not object to the applicants joining the suit, he rather said that he will serve the applicants with all processes within 24 hours.

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While INEC through its lawyer, Mr Ibrahim Inuwa (SAN), did not also oppose the application for joinder that of the AGF, Mr Dipo Okpeseyi, SAN, did and urged the court to ensure that only proper parties should be allowed to join in the matter.

In a short ruling, the court joined the PDP, John Martins, and Olukunle Ebun as 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants respectively.

Justice Mohammed in addition ordered an accelerated hearing in the matter, adding that while the 1st and 2nd defendants were directed to respond to the plaintiff’s suit within Monday and Tuesday, the 3rd to 5th defendants have up till Wednesday next week to respond and the plaintiff, 24 hours to reply on point of law.

Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned to May 23 for parties to adopt their final written addresses.

The judge, however, warned that the court will not entertain any request for an extension of time since all parties have pledged to the accelerated hearing of the matter, also warned parties not to take any step that would undermine the proceedings.