Victor EzejaBarely 24 hours after it was confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, picked up a N100 million presidential nomination form under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Nigeria’s number one banker said he had turned down the ‘offer,’ stating that he has not concluded on joining the race.
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Emefiele has come under intense criticism following the confirmed report of his official enrollment in the 2023 presidential race, with many describing his political move as ‘unprecedented’ and asking him to resign as CBN governor in the interest of the economy and the sensitive banking sector he regulates.
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who is also a member of the ruling APC, had hours after the purchase of the N100 million presidential nomination form, called out the CBN governor and asked him to immediately resign his position.
But Emefiele, one day after, took what many considered a measured step, saying that although the form was purchased in his name, he had not really made up his mind to run for the office of the President in 2023.
Recall that prior to Friday’s report of his official joining of the presidential race, Mr Emefiele had been variously speculated to have been nursing political ambition. He was neither certain in denying nor confirming the reports.
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Responding to the viral report of his latest action on Friday, Emefiele through his verified Twitter handle on Saturday, gave an indication that he has not totally made up his mind to run for the office of the president.
The CBN boss who thanked a group he said was responsible for purchasing the N100 million presidential form for him, stated that if he decides to contest for president, he would use his hard-earned savings for the past 35 years in the banking industry to obtain the form.
Here is the tweet: “I am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the Office of President in the 2023 general elections: I have not come to that decision.
“I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds and offering me Presidential Nomination Forms: I thank them most profusely.
“However, Should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard earned savings from over 35 years of banking leadership to buy my own Nomination Forms, without proxies in an open and transparent manner in full compliance with the laws and Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And should I not run for elected office, I will continue to serve and sacrifice for the good people of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. This is a serious decision that requires God’s Divine intervention: in the next few days The Almighty will so direct.”
For the past few months, there have been speculations that the apex bank boss was aspiring to contest for the number one post in the country which Friday’s confirmed nomination form purchase laid to rest; but Emefiele has now turned around to ‘reject’ it.
There were indications that some political gladiators were already set to fight him dirty for taking the decision to join the presidential race in 2023.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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