The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said on Sunday that the suspension of Lamido Sanusi as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria could hurt the nation’s economy.
Tambuwal, who spoke during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the action by President Goodluck Jonathan was capable of sending “wrong signals” to international investors about Nigeria’s financial institutions.
Explaining that he was at the Hilltop residence of the former President to consult him on some key issues of “national interest,” the speaker stated that foreign businessmen must have confidence in a nation’s financial system before they could invest their funds.
He said, “Well whether (Sanusi’s suspension) is lawful, legal or illegal, the personality involved has told everybody that he is going to court and I believe that he is already in court on that suspension.
“On the implications for the economy; I’m not an economist but I personally feel that it will definitely send wrong signals to investors. This is because you need to have confidence in the financial institutions, particularly the independence of the financial institutions of a country, before investors will consider such a country worthy of their investments. So, I have my concern about that.”
Tambuwal, who maintained that he was still a card-carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, dismissed speculations that he was planning to leave the party for the All Progressives Congress or any other party.
He said, “I am visiting the national leader of the PDP. Baba(Obasanjo) and myself are in the PDP. Baba is a leader not only in Nigeria but in Africa and it is only appropriate for those of us in the positions of authority and leadership to occasionally come and consult him on matters of national interest and that is what we are here for today(Sunday).
“There are lots of issues in Nigeria today. Of course, there is the issue of Petroleum Industry Bill that we are considering in the House. We are doing constitution amendment and a host of other very key and important legislation before the parliament.
“So, we needed to consult our leaders on such very important and vital legislation before we conclude what we are doing on them. The Electoral Act is likely to be amended too. So, from his wealth of experience, we need some input from him(Obasanjo).”
Tambuwal was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Kawu Sumaila; Ajibola Muraina and Aminu Shagari.