A financier-of-terror as Central Bank Governor?

by Eze Eluchie

As more facts emerge on the character who once held sway over the Central Bank of Nigeria gets revealed, one begins to wonder what manner of vetting and security clearances our security agencies particularly the State Security Service (SSS) and the office of the National Security Adviser actually dish out.

The fact that now suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lanido Sanusi studied extremist Islamic ideology at the African International University in Khartoum, Sudan at the same time as al-Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden lived in Sudan has been common knowledge. Questions that have not been clarified include if the two met and whether the former was a financier of the latter activities.

Facts which have recently emerged that Mr. Sanusi was detained for over 2 years at the Federal Prisons, Sokoto, on account of being one of the financiers and instigators of very violent Islamist riots in Kano, during which a Christian, Goideon Akaluka was beheaded and his head paraded in the streets of Kano for allegedly desecrating the Quoran is quite disturbing.

Some of those who had been indicted for instigating, financing and involvement in the said Kano religious riots alongside Mr. Sanusi had been executed for their actions - Sanusi's life had merely been saved on account of the fact that he was a member of the family which rules over the Kano Emirate council (his father, Emir Sanusi had been deposed by the former Premier of Northern Nigeria, the revered Sardauna of Sokoto).

When one considers how this Sanusi character championed extremist Islamist views during his tenure as Central Bank Governor, doled out cash to spurious Islamist organizations, and generally used the office and resources of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to create disquiet in the Nigerian polity and advance extremist policies and activities, one begins to wonder, yes we had an extremist as Central Bank Governor, but did we also have a terrorist as our Chief Banker?

Does shaving off beards and replacing long gowns with corporate suits alter the personality of an extremist?

Are the increasing attacks on civilian targets by terrorists in Nigeria's Northeast zone, inclusive of the kidnap of over 20 female students to serve as sex-slaves and the dastardly murder of over 50 pupils at the Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, Yobe State, part of a chain reaction to the suspension of Mr. Sanusi?

President Goodluck Jonathan had stated soon after the Independence Day Bombing on 1st October 2010 that the Nigerian government was infested and populated by terrorists elements and sympathizers of terrorists, are there many or any more of such characters in the Government?

Why would a government continue to harbor such characters in its membership?

How in heavens name (or hells for that matter), did the facts emerging on Mr. Sanusi escape the various security vetting through which anyone nominated to hold such a sensitive office? 

The need for an urgent restructuring and renegotiating the Nigerian contraption gets more clearer by the day.

http://ezeluchie.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-central-unbanker-of-millennium-ii.html

http://ezeluchie.blogspot.com/2012/12/central-unbanker-of-millennium.html

Picture: Suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.