Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, may have responded to criticisms over the flooding of his campaign posters in Abuja and a few other places.
Over the weekend, the posters of the CBN chief adorned Eagle Square in Abuja, the venue of the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This sparked reactions from various quarters as Mr Emefiele was accused of getting distracted, especially at a time he should have been more focused on getting the economy back on its feet.
The rising cost of items at the market triggered by an energy crisis in the country has subjected Nigerians to untold hardship and some people felt the nation’s chief banker should be more concerned about making things better rather than planning to join politics and aspire to be President of the country next year.
Apparently worried by the reactions, Mr Emefiele, in a series of tweets from his Twitter handle, @GodwinIEmefiele, said he’s not distracted from the job at hand.
According to him, his focus, for now, is making life easier for the citizens through “robust monetary policy” and helping the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari finish strong next year.
The CBN Governor was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, a year before Mr Buhari assumed office.
His appointment was extended by another term of five years in 2019. It was the first time that anyone will serve a second term since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
So, when the posters of Mr Emefiele for President flooded the nation’s capital, the country’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and others called for his resignation.
In his reaction, the apex bank leader said, “My focus at this time is a robust monetary policy and fighting inflation which is now a global problem; building a strong financial system in an increasingly uncertain global economy.”
He further said his eyes are on, “Development finance and supporting farmers and manufacturers in our self-sufficiency and import substitution drive; raising N15 trillion for InfraCo infrastructure financing; and building a world-class International Financial Centre in Lagos; as we support the @MBuhari administration to finish strong.”
In concluding his message, Mr Emefiele wrote #NoDistractionsPlease.
