NewStats: 3,262,148 , 8,176,221 topics. Date: Sunday, 01 June 2025 at 12:16 AM 3m4ax

Prominent South-East leaders in the diaspora have accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, of orchestrating what they describe as a calculated "ethnic cleansing" of Igbo professionals from Nigeria’s apex financial institution.

In a detailed petition obtained by SaharaReporters, signed by respected South East diaspora figures across the United States, United Kingdom, , South Africa, Canada, and beyond, the group decried what they called “a blatant, unprecedented sidelining of South Easterners” in the CBN under Cardoso’s watch.

The document references a widely discussed report by journalist and broadcaster Rufai Oseni, which exposed a deep-rooted pattern of nepotism and ethnic bias in the latest round of directorship appointments.

The petition alleged that Governor Cardoso has relentlessly purged the CBN of top South East professionals since assuming office.

In May 2024, all South East directors were dismissed, including Chibuzor Efobi, who headed Financial Policy and Regulation, Dr Scholastica Ozoemena Nnaji of Trade and Exchange, Chibuike Nwaegerue from the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and Nkiru Asiegbu who led the Special Duties unit.

The petitioners say their dismissals were carried out without board approval and disciplinary proceedings, and without the affected officials being informed of any wrongdoing.

Beyond directors, over 20 deputy directors and 15 assistant directors, many of whom were foreign-trained specialists, were also axed.

Among those swept out were Dr Valentine Ururuka, a macro-prudential expert trained at the University of Lancaster; Dr Odim Orji, a leading monetary policy expert; Angela Ofili, an HR strategist; and Christian Eze, another respected HR professional.

The group insists that these terminations were illegal and have opened the floodgates to multiple lawsuits that now embarrass the institution and threaten to impose heavy liabilities on Nigerian taxpayers.

The petitioners further claim that following this purge, the recent wave of appointments to fill the vacant directorship positions was rigged in favour of South West candidates, many of whom allegedly underperformed or never applied for the positions they were eventually given.

They cited the case of Rita Ijeoma Sike, a top performer in the interview for Director of Banking Supervision.

Despite reportedly outscoring her South West counterpart, Adetona Sikiru Adedeji, the position was given to Adedeji, while Sike was moved elsewhere.

In a similar vein, Chikelu Edison Oballum won the interview for the Development Finance Institutions Supervision Department but was sidelined in favour of Monsurat Vincent, who was instead appointed Director of Strategy—a role she neither applied nor interviewed for.

Another high-performing candidate, Paul Ihuoma Oluikpe, ranked among the top two in both Strategy and Corporate Communications Department interviews. Yet he was denied both roles. Instead, the rules were changed mid-process and Strategy was handed to Vincent, while Corporate Communications was merged with Investor Relations and handed to another less-qualified candidate.

Promise Joe-Ibekwe, a promising Southeast woman who competed for Director of Payments System Management, was byed in favour of Rakiya Opemi Yusuf, who reportedly never even applied for the role. Likewise, Ifeoma Geraldine Okwor, who was impressed during her assessment for the Banking Services Department, was ultimately ignored while less competent candidates from the South West secured top positions.

The Southeast leaders describe these actions as “a tribal bazaar” where ethnic loyalty trumped national unity and merit. They pointed out that Governor Cardoso, in a single wave of appointments, gave 13 directorships to Yoruba candidates out of 29 departments while leaving the entire Southeast with just one.

In contrast, previous istrations, including that of the embattled former Governor Godwin Emefiele, ensured at least four directors from each geopolitical zone. Even during Emefiele’s controversial reign, regional balance was never this recklessly violated.

In their statement, the petitioners warned that Cardoso’s actions have eroded public trust and could endanger national cohesion. They called on the National Assembly to immediately probe the appointments and reverse what they describe as “institutionalised injustice.”

They also demanded sweeping reforms in the governance of the CBN, including the separation of the roles of the Governor and Board Chairman to prevent what they see as unchecked abuse of power.

The petition closes with a strong message to the Nigerian government and political elite: “The South East has paid its dues in building this nation. We will not tolerate systemic exclusion. We are mobilizing our senators and representatives to act. This injustice will not go unanswered in 2027. Any institution or istration that discriminates against us will face political consequences.”

The document bears the signatures of over 20 influential South East voices in the diaspora, including Elder Chibuzor Nsofor in Hamburg, Aloysius Egwu in California, Prince Ulu Aguchekwa in London, Amara Duru in Helsinki, and Professor Chike Ubani in Missouri, among others.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/04/05/south-east-leaders-accuse-central-bank-governor-cardoso-ethnic-cleansing-directorship

They should go and meet Emefiele.

They call country zoo and still want to favor from it,make una no worry una go soon get Biafra and establish una own central bank.

Nothing last forever.

Government of Yorubas by Yorubas for Yorubas

Nothing last forever tho

This isn't even the first Yoruba president we've had

The damage iragbiji microphone leaker have caused them it will take time for them to recover

This is nepotism on steroids

I know one of the names mentioned there and she is a Niger Deltan who I have heard many times claimed she was not Igbo. Why are Igbos always defending and fighting for these people who will at the end of the day deny being Igbo? If your brother says he is not your brother, let him go fight his battles alone. To me now, everybody dey on im own.

No one should be surprised.

Na their way, nepotism, trabalism, segregation, parochialism, name them.

I WOULDNT BOTHER TOO MUCH WITH THIS, BECAUSE 2025 WILL SOON END.


WE SAY HELLO 2026, LET US SEE THE MIRACLE TINUBU WANT TO PULL ON THE 2027 ELECTION.



WEN THEY GET TO ASO ROCK, THEY USUALLY MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING NIGERIA IS A MONARCHY.


ALL OF THEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WILL BE DISMISSED IN LITTLE OVER 20MONTHS.

Tinubu is doing what he said he'd do.
- Peter Obi.

No surprises at all.

This country matter don taya me

Ndi victims.

Nonexisting1:
I know one of the names mentioned there and she is a Niger Deltan who I have heard many times claimed she was not Igbo. Why are Igbos always defending and fighting for these people who will at the end of the day deny being Igbo? Of your brother says he is not your brother, let him go fight his battles alone. To me now, everybody dey on im own.

If they said they are not igbos. Leave them be. Iol.

plumcomm:
They call country zoo and still want to favor from it,make una no worry una go soon get Biafra and establish una own central bank.

Their crude oil and gas is what runs your country.

zeuss:


Their crude oil and gas is runs your country.

SS Oil. Not SE or SW or NC oil.

The cry baby tribe of Nigeria

Slytiger:

SS Oil. Not SE or SW or NC oil.

Forget the lies government tells you......only ss and SE have oil......

zeuss:

Forget the lies government tells you......only ss and SE have oil......

Ondo, Kogi and Lagos have oil. We are not kids here.

plumcomm:
They call country zoo and still want to favor from it,make una no worry una go soon get Biafra and establish una own central bank.

Don't mind them.

Tinubu's regime is going to put Nigeria on a pathway of irreconcilable ethnic chauvinism.

Cry babies everywhere. Those there are getting the job done and that is what matters.

jimetagambo:

Ondo, Kogi and Lagos have oil. We are not kids here.

Lol......so also does bauchi and borno

zeuss:


Lol......so also does bauchi and borno

I never said that. That is you cooking up lies in your head.

jimetagambo:

Don't mind them.

They still have Monday as no workday just to let u know they want nothing to do with you

zeuss:


They still have Monday as no workday just to let u know they want nothing to do with you

Okay.

jimetagambo:

I never said that. That is you cooking up lies in your head.

U like lies nah

zeuss:

U like lies nah

I am not like you.

I keep saying this,in truth;Yorubas are the most insecured set of people,apart from there hypocritical nature,they are very treacherous and slippery,they avoid any form of competition or merit based programs,reason why the need for 'Oluwole' certificate. see how most nurses being investigated in London for having falsified their documents are 99.5% Yorubas
They are hiding this insecurity with the general adoption of tribalism and nepotism as a way out.No longer the days when the Lagos Ibadan ngb*ti parapo media were gaslighting Nigerians with propaganda,with the advent of social media,the truth is known.
It is obvious that state actors in this present government were briefed on the need to Yorubanize the system and it is done with reckless abandon.As for the Igbos,they see ndigbo as a people who must be brought down by all means,they feel threatened by the sudden educational advancement of igbos in every field even against the odd while they were busy doing Owambe.
Beyond the pretence,there elites and those whom should talk are now operating on the code of 'see no evil,hear no evil'.
For sure,Igbos fair better in times of difficulty, it is cultural...our antagonist are our helpers.
Posterity will certainly be on our side.

AustineE1:
I keep saying this,in truth;Yorubas are the most insecured set of people,apart from there hypocritical nature,they are very treacherous and slippery,they avoid any form of competition or merit based programs,reason why the need for 'Oluwole' certificate. see how most nurses being investigated in London for having falsified their documents are 99.5% Yorubas
They are hiding this insecurity with the general adoption of tribalism and nepotism as a way out.No longer the days when the Lagos Ibadan ngb*ti parapo media were gaslighting Nigerians with propaganda,with the advent of social media,the truth is known.
It is obvious that state actors in this present government was brief on the need to Yorubanize the system and it is done with reckless abandon.As for the Igbos,they see ndigbo as a people who must be brought down by all means,they feel threatened by the sudden educational advancement of igbos in every field even against the odd while they were busy doing Owambe.
Beyond the pretence,there elites and those whom should talk are now operating on the code of 'see no evil,hear no evil'.
For sure,Igbos fair better in times of difficulty, it is cultural...our antagonist are our helpers.
Posterity will certainly be on our side.

Wẹ love your wawa cry

"They pointed out that Governor Cardoso, in a single wave of appointments, gave 13 directorships to Yoruba candidates out of 29 departments while leaving the entire Southeast with just one."

What type of unfortunate poverty mindset is troubling yoruba? This extreme form of tribalism and desperation to grab everything for themselves is unprecedented.

We like what the yorubas are doing, the hausa~fulani did theirs during their time and Igbo's will reciprocate once one of our son becomes the president of this country.. Hope no one complains when that time comes...

AustineE1:
I keep saying this,in truth;Yorubas are the most insecured set of people,apart from there hypocritical nature,they are very treacherous and slippery,they avoid any form of competition or merit based programs,reason why the need for 'Oluwole' certificate. see how most nurses being investigated in London for having falsified their documents are 99.5% Yorubas
They are hiding this insecurity with the general adoption of tribalism and nepotism as a way out.No longer the days when the Lagos Ibadan ngb*ti parapo media were gaslighting Nigerians with propaganda,with the advent of social media,the truth is known.
It is obvious that state actors in this present government were briefed on the need to Yorubanize the system and it is done with reckless abandon.As for the Igbos,they see ndigbo as a people who must be brought down by all means,they feel threatened by the sudden educational advancement of igbos in every field even against the odd while they were busy doing Owambe.
Beyond the pretence,there elites and those whom should talk are now operating on the code of 'see no evil,hear no evil'.
For sure,Igbos fair better in times of difficulty, it is cultural...our antagonist are our helpers.
Posterity will certainly be on our side.

this your wailing style is in higher mode . When will you poeple stop attacking / hate the Tribe that made it the president of Nigeria? You said more than this against Fulanis / Ahusas when Buhari was the president.

zeuss:


Their crude oil and gas is what runs your country.

whose crude oil,e be like una Dey dream.wetin concern Igbo with crude oil?