Muhammadu Sanusi, the deposed Emir of Kano, has lent his voice to the ongoing discourse surrounding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to relocate some of its departments from Abuja to Lagos.
Sanusi, known for his outspoken views, urged authorities to disregard the objections raised by Northern politicians, emphasizing that Abuja, as the federal capital, should not be treated as a regional issue.
In a statement made available to Okay.ng, Sanusi expressed his support for the CBN’s move, affirming the need for principled decision-making despite political pressures.
He encouraged empathy in the relocation process, particularly for individuals with specific circumstances such as mothers with school-going children and those with medical conditions.
Sanusi stated, “Individual situations should be considered. As much as possible we should be empathetic. For example, young mothers with kids in school who do not need to move can be prioritized to stay in Abuja or those with medical conditions, etc.”
Addressing potential concerns, Sanusi advised the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, to proceed with the policy without succumbing to political pressure.
He stressed the importance of maintaining consistency in decision-making to avoid setting precedents for undue interference.
“My advice to the Governor is to go ahead with his policy. Once the CBN starts bending to political pressure on one thing it will continue doing so,“ Sanusi said.
“Northern politicians will shout that this is moving from Abuja to Lagos. Abuja is a federal capital not a northern issue. So long as this is a principled decision, the noise should be ignored.
“When I was about to license Jaiz Bank, there was a lot of religious noise from CAN, etc. Even enlightened people like Okey Emelamah were going to sue me to court on religious grounds. I ignored it and licenced the bank. Nothing happened.
“A Christian Governor after me licenced at least two more non-interest banks. No one is even noticing again.”
