A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday unveiled a book on how the Soludo-engineered consolidation and transformed Nigerian banks.
Obasanjo, was represented by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, at the unveiling of the book written by Dr Ray Echebiri, Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Financial Journalism, yesterday ,Lagos.
The title of the book is: “The Power of One Man: How The Soludo- Engineered Consolidation Transformed Nigerian Banks to Global Players”.
Obasanjo said that all players in the stakeholder economy as well as government at all levels need to work hand in hand to improve the current situation of the country.
“Like the title of the book says, without the team we cannot win the match; the captain is Soludo, with his team, and I take pride in all the team.
“Yes ,CBN governor made a policy but the weight of the government is also important.
“When Soludo took over, I could tell the difference between a banker and an economist and we need someone who sees the country holistically.
“We appreciate the author of this book and we look forward to the volume two of the book,” he said.
Also, Gov.Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that there was need for the current leadership of CBN to use the gathering to“test the blood pressure and temperature” of the system.
Sanwo-Olu said that hopefully, in the next 20 years from now, they would also gather to do another review on the consolidation of banking sector.
“You are on the right thing track of doing it right; we hope you will complete it and stand tall without minding any stumbling block.
“Currently, the country’s economy is going through turbulence; we need the stakeholders in CBN to do something, so that in the next 20 years we can gather like this.
“Soludo was not an accidental CBN governor because he was so cerebral that he won several prizes all through in his academics,” he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra, said that his family had gone on exile because of banking consolidation due to the several threats and attacks from different people.
Soludo, a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN),
said that it was a dangerous “gambling and war” but, “today we could write about it”.
“Let me start by a disclaimer, I have not read the book. My gratitude goes to the author of this book and I appreciate my major incredible team.
“I also thank the Nigerian stakeholders for the massive support because it was like a revolution time; today, we are celebrating the possibility of Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, former Director-General,West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, said the event was crucial because consolidation in the banking sector was numbing.
The Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former Governor of Ekiti State; Mr Ahmad Mu’azu, former Governor of Bauchi state, and representatives of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN). were all present.
The book has 263 pages and was reviewed by Mr Azu Ishiekwene, Senior Vice-Chairman and Editor -in- Chief, Leadership Newspapers.
