By John Ikani
The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has
formally announced his intention to run for the office of the Nigerian President under the banner of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Heritage Times gathered that Emefiele made the announcement at the State House, Abuja, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
He told State House journalists that he would leave the villa to pick his N100 million expression of interest and nomination forms of the APC.
The forms were reportedly picked on behalf of the governor by his associates at around 11:15 A.M on Friday morning.
Many groups have been drumming support for Mr Emefiele to join the presidential race, a move which has been criticised by many Nigerians.
At the national convention of the APC in March 2022, posters of the nation’s chief banker adorned the venue of the event, fuelling calls for his resignation as his position was supposed to be non-partisan.
However, the CBN boss in what appeared to be a response to calls for him run for the country’s presidency in 2023, maintained that his focus at that point in time was to formulate a robust monetary policy and fight inflation which is now a global problem.
The CBN boss said that part of his focus is also to build a strong financial system in an increasingly uncertain global economy.
Friday’s declaration and pick up of nomination forms puts to rest the speculations on his interest in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari.
It is not certain if Mr Emefiele will immediately resign as the CBN Governor following the latest development.
In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Emefiele, hours after suspending his predecessor, Sanusi Lamido.
In 2019, the former Managing Director of Zenith Bank made history as the first CBN Governor to be reappointed after President Muhammadu Buhari had renewed his five-year tenure.
Emefiele will compete for the nation highest public office against Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa) and at least five ministers for the APC presidential ticket.
