By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has said he will seek the face of God concerning calls from different quarters to contest for the number one position of the country next year.
Nigeria prepares to go to the polls in 2023 to elect a president to govern its affairs for the next four years as President Muhammadu Buhari ends his eight-year tenure on May 29, 2023.
One of the names flying around to succeed Mr Buhari is Mr Emefiele, who presently is in charge of the nation’s monetary policies.
Normally, he is supposed not to belong to any political party and if he must seek an elective position, he is required by law to resign from office.
On Friday, he was reported to have picked the presidential nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which costs N100 billion. It was also reported that the form was purchased for him by his associates, who include rice farmers in the country.
The news generated reactions, including from the Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, who joined others to ask the President to sack him if he does not resign from office immediately.
Reacting to the issue on Saturday, the CBN Governor said he is overwhelmed by the love shown to him by his associates, promising to let Nigerians know if he will bow to pressure to throw his hat in the ring in the coming days.
“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,” the central banker posted via his verified Twitter handle.
