A day after submitting the name of Ms. Ruby Onwudiwe to the Senate as a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is under pressure to drop the nominee.
Social media has been abuzz over her association with Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the last election, with her showing open support for her Igbo brother.
Tinubu will now be expected to announce a new nominee from the South East.
Tinubu reportedly may likely withdraw her nomination to the CBN Board member over complaints from top All Progressives Congress, APC members over Ruby’s support for Labour Party, LP’s Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Solomon Adeola reportedly pointed out the impropriety of the nomination to President Tinubu Thursday night during his meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators.
Onwudiwe’s nomination came after Tinubu presented to the Senate five people as directors of the board of the CBN: Robert O. Agbide, Ado Yakubu Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, Urom Eke, and Olayinka Aliyu.
However, when on February 29, the Senate confirmed four people as members of the board of the CBN, it said Eke, nominee from the South-East, rejected the offer over “conflict of interest.”
Tinubu’s new nomination came in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpiabio, and read at plenary on Wednesday in Abuja.
Tinubu said: “I am pleased to present for confirmation by the senate, the appointment of Dr Ruby Onwudiwe as a member of the CBN board of directors.
“The Senate is invited to kindly note that Onwudiwe is a replacement for Mr Kalu Eke, due to the unavailability of Eke for the position.
“It is my hope, therefore, that the senate will consider and confirm in its usual expeditious manner, the appointment of Onwudiwe.
“Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”
