Editorial:

Sanusi Lamido/NLC Face-Off
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, seem to thrive in controversy. Since his assumption of office, the CBN governor has been off and on in one controversy or another.
First was the Islamization of Nigeria through imposition of Islamic banking. This botched attempt ravaged the country to the extent that it almost plunge the nation into religious war.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its Islamic counterpart engaged in series of mudslinging to make their positions known to existing and prospective supporters or adherents of their religions.
As if that was not enough, the CBN governor wanted to embark on the introduction of (N5,000) five thousand naira note. This was again met with great opposition from several quarters across the country.
While some viewed the proposed policy as anti-people, capable of further devaluing the naira, the same school of thought opposed the proposal on the ground that it negates the principle of cashless economy canvassed by Alh. Sanusi himself. They wondered how a body or government touting cash-free society will turn-around to encourage persons to carry cash by introduction of higher denomination currency which, according to them, will enable the citizens carry as much cash as possible.
The CBN Boss tried in vain to convince the people to buy his idea, all to no avail. In fact, it took the intervention of the National Assembly to persuade Lamido to drop that proposed plan.
The CBN governor, in his usual character has vowed to implement the new naira regime at all costs, irrespective of whose ox is gored.
No sooner had this controversy died down, than Alh. Lamido started another controversy by asking the federal government to sack 50% of civil servants in the country.
The CBN governor did not stop there: he also charged the FG to reduce the number of political office holders, both elected and appointed, to half.
Part of his reasons is that the cost of maintaining these people is telling on the coffers of the central government.
As the popular adage goes, when the child commits major offence, the parents overlook, but when he commits the minor one, that is when venom/vexation of all his misdeeds will be visited.
This adage consequently played out, when the Nigeria Labour Congress mobilized its members and demanded for the sack of the CBN governor.
Infact, the NLC gave a 7-day ultimatum to the FG to relieve Sanusi of his position as governor and chief executive of the apex bank.
It did not stop there, the Federal House of Representatives and its Senate counterpart asked the controversial CBN governor to either concentrate on his job of managing the apex bank or dabble into politics and risk losing his job.
The question is, why does Sanusi enjoy controversy? What are his immediate or remote reasons (gains) for embarking on one controversy or the other? What does he stand to gain when he is being criticized or even cursed by so many people?
No matter what the answers are, the fact remains that, it does not create good image for him and the CBN.
In as much as some people may be naturally radical, the position you occupy goes a long way to pattern or determine your conduct. In the case of Lamido, he has allowed his sentiment or better still, madness to override his position, and by extension, public interest.
Labour and other major stakeholders in the country are of the opinion that such flippant person, who is noted for careless statements, is not fit for such exalted office like the governor of the country’s highest bank.
Going by the style of Sanusi, who knows the next controversy he is going to dabble into? And how long will the country continue to spend useful time in discussing “Lamidomania” within short space of time.
We believe that going by the trend and culture of the CBN governor as manifested by his antecedents so far, there is certainly nothing Nigeria can do to change the ‘war-horse’ overnight. Therefore it is either we learn to live by it or find an alternative, which is a replacement.
Sanusi has, instead of showing remorse for his latest goof of calling for the sack of 50% workforce in the country, gone ahead to justify his claim. He did not do that within the shores of Nigeria, but in interviews he granted to foreign media organizations. The onus is on the powers that be in the country to either shape in or out.
We think the country is becoming sick with the unguided utterances by a person of such sensitive position that seems to be sitting on a keg of gun-power, which, God forbid might explode any moment. ###