Labour Party on Saturday said the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unconstitutional.
The party also stated that the suspension was without the permission of the National Assembly, describing it as punitive.
The LP in a statement issued by the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, recalled that the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had objected when former President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as CBN Governor.
Gbajabiamila, then Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, according to the LP, said the President lacks powers under the laws to sack the CBN Governor.
“One wonders what has changed between that time and now,” the party stated.
It noted that Gbajabiamila who has been appointed Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, had then argued that the law requires the President to seek the approval of two third of the Senate to be able to sack the CBN governor.
According to the party, the Speaker had argued that the law is the doctrine of checks and balances to avoid the abuse of powers by the president, “while at the same time guaranteeing the autonomy of the CBN.
“But under Gbajabiamila’s watch, Emefiele was fired in a most unconstitutional and vindictive manner.
“It is only in Nigeria that we find people that approbate and reprobate at the same time.
People say one thing from one side of their mouth and another from the other side, especially when it favours them politically and otherwise.
“That explains why the country is in shamble: no rule of law, no equity, no justice, and no fair play.
People don’t follow standard rules and procedures.
That is why every aspect of our lives, be it our economic, political and social lives, is challenged.
“Gbajabiamila because he was in the opposition at that time, he saw everything wrong with President Jonathan sacking Sanusi.
Today he is on the other side of the divide; he doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
“This is what Nigerians will face in the APC government”.