Former CBN Gov Soludo sighted in Aso Rock

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, yesterday sighted at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as a guest of the Chief of Staff to the President, ‎Alhaji Abba Kyari.

Although it could not be established if he later met with President Muhammadu Buhari, Soludo’s visit to the number one office,at about 5:30pm, could not be unconnected with ongoing ministerial appointments, waiting to be announced.

The list of the President’s ministerial nominees will be announced any day soon, before the end of this month.

This is despite the fact that ‎Soludo, who served as CBN governor under the administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo and Umar Yar’Adua, had on June 7 declared in an interview with online news platform (Premium Times) that he was not ready to work for Buhari’s government.

Soludo had been quite critical of the financial management of the economy by the Jonathan administration, accusing it of supervising the leakage of 30 trillion from the system.

“Nigerians and their rumours! I am glad you said they are rumours and such rumours are normal. For sure, I wish the new government success and for the sake of Nigeria, everyone must contribute to assist President Buhari succeed. I will contribute in whatever way I can. However, everyone can’t sit in government in order to serve: some will be there on full time basis while others can contribute from outside. For me personally and at this point in time, I am not disposed or available for full time public service now; perhaps in the future it could happen, but not now. For now, my hands are full with several other experiments I am involved with (especially abroad) in the private sector, charity, think-tanks, and the international community. I am part of a major initiative in Africa’s mining and solid minerals sector, and this takes me through several African countries, etc. I am having great fun exploring totally new vistas of opportunity that are central to Africa’s great leap in the 21st century. I read that President Buhari will give priority to solid minerals. We can provide free advisory services and perhaps assist to mobilize investment in the sector or in any other areas if our advice is needed. In effect, there are several ways we can assist the government to succeed but not necessarily to take up full time appointment. No, not now,” he said in the interview.

He was responding to rumors that he criticized Jonathan’s administration towards its end in the hope of getting an appointment from Buhari.

He was engaged in a war of words with former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who expressed reservations over Soludo’s criticism of the last administration.

Okonjo- Iweala had fired back at Soludo, saying his tenure as CBN governor was also a disaster.

Also sighted in the State House yesterday was the immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Dr John Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi who wore in a dark – colored kaftan with a cap also entered the Chief of Staff’s office about 30 minutes after Soludo.

The two men waited for the Chief of Staff because he had been in the President’s office when they entered the State House.

Elizabeth Archibong