The Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido has worked with various financial institutions including First Bank of Nigeria. He was once the bank’s Chief Executive Officer and the executive director of risk management. This position and other embedded qualities caught the attention of the then-Nigerian president in 2009. He was appointed by former Nigerian president “Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua” as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor on June 1st, 2009. As the CBN Governor, Sanusi attained several milestones. These milestones include reforming the banking sector, stabilizing financial strength during the global economic crisis, strengthening frameworks of regulatory guidelines, promoting transparency in the Nigerian economy and banking sector, and leading radical anti-corruption campaigns.
Following the demise of Umaru Musa Yar, Adua, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2010 stepped in as the president of Nigeria following the Nigerian Constitution. The change in power at first did not alter Sanusi’s position as the CBN Governor. Ultimate controversy erupted due to a $49.8 billion discrepancy in government funds. The former CBN Governor raised an alarm alleging the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of not remitting funds to the government. This alert led to a serious conflict with the presidency and Sanusi had his claims questioned, and his accuracy in the call sounded fishy. On February 20th, 2014, Goodluck Jonathan eventually suspended Sanusi Lamido for financial recklessness and inefficiency which later resulted in further investigations.
Goodluck Jonathan’s Regime came to an end when Sanusi Lamido was coronated the Emir of Kano State Nigeria several months later.
Ten years after the incident, during a book launch titled “Public Policy and Agents Interest: Perspectives of the Emerging World”, Goodluck dismissed the Emir’s claim of sacking him as the CBN Governor for raising the alarm of corrupted individuals in the government.
The book launch had Emir Sanusi deliver his speech as the Royal father of the day.
Sanusi said:
“My boss who sacked me. I was constructively dismissed. I continue to respect Jonathan and I don’t have grudges against anyone”
These were his words during the short speech after taking the podium a few hours after Goodluck Jonathan made the denying speech. In Sanusi’s Speech, he pointed out how the present government is frustrating the great efforts of individual investors in the country that could trigger the growth of the country. His meticulous views and analysis pointed to the tussle between Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian government, believing that the selfish interests of some individuals are causing a bridge of flow of ending fuel importation into the country. The monarch stated that “rather than seizing this opportunity, we are obstructing it”, “People get into office and what they think is how much they can get from the state”.
In the event of the book launch, Sanusi expressed his delight and mentioned that the co-author of the book is one of the longest-serving public servants who has never been investigated by the Nigerian Anti-Graft Agency-The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
This has revealed the long-standing existing secrets and the saga behind the sack of the Former CBN governor and all consciences cleared.
