Presidency Keeps Mum on New CBN Governor

The five-year tenure of Central Bank Governor, Chukwuma Soludo ended last night with President Umaru Yar?Adua neither extending the tenure nor naming a successor.Mum was the word at the presidency yesterday when THISDAY made enquiries about the future of Soludo and the likelihood of a successor.A presidency source said that the inability to either extend Soludo?s tenure or appoint a successor was caused by ?unprecedented pressure on Yar?Adua by all sorts of interest groups.?The source said the president is suddenly having second thoughts about the managing director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who he had earlier offered the job.The source confirmed that Sanusi was actually invited by Yar?Adua and offered the job and that security checks were subsequently carried out.He continued: ?The president has suddenly developed cold feet over (Sanusi) because holes were punctured in his choice for the job at CBN.

Yar'Adua needs to make up his mind one way or another on this issue. This matter is too sensitive to be allowed to linger for much longer