Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is allegedly being courted by senior members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to run for president in 2023.
According to report, the economist was initially appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the government of Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Though the Delta State-born is claimed to remain non-partisan till this point, prominent members of the governing party are allegedly making steps to pull him into the fold ahead of the 2023 national elections.
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Emefiele’s second tenure as CBN Governor would end in 2024 and APC chieftains including several state governors are alleged to be aiming to get him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
According to a source close to Newsmen, the CBN governor has gotten significant endorsement from a part of the Presidency and several APC governors to enter the race.
If Emefiele accepts the nomination, he will face competition from Bola Tinubu (APC national leader), Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and potentially Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has yet to openly declare his candidacy.
According to one insider close to Abuja’s power corridors, Emefiele would likely be picked if the permutations favored the South at the end of the day.
“The man has endeared himself to those close to President Buhari, including among the inner caucus.
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“In fact, this is basically why his tenure as CBN governor was renewed even though he was first appointed by the previous administration. He knows how to play his game well as head of the apex financial institution as well as a politician,” Daily Trust quoted the source saying.
Another source said top northern captains of industry are also amenable to him.
“I don’t want to call names but Emefiele has the backing of top businessmen because he gave them all the support they need. Thousands of Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) have also benefitted from the at least 37 different interventions by the CBN,” he said.
It was further gathered that serving governors who are close to the president have been packaging the apex bank czar before the president.
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It was revealed that a meeting between the governors, Emefiele and President Buhari held in Daura during the Eid el-Kabir, last year, was part of the move to secure a ticket for the CBN governor.
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