Following intense public outcry, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has withdrawn from the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Sources close to the CBN governor said he withdrew from the race over fear that he may not get the party’s ticket.
The CBN governor reportedly informed President Buhari of his decision on Thursday.
Many groups and notable Nigerians had called for Emefiele’s resignation to preserve the sanctity of the treasury and national economy.
But reacting to his controversial presidential ambition on Thursday to State House Correspondents, Emefiele, boasted that he was having fun and cared less about what people had to say. While speaking to a report that the President had asked him to resign after the purchase of the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Emefiele said, “There is no news now, but there will be news. You heard me, I said there is no news but there will be news.”
But when told that Nigerians were anxious about his position, he said: “Let them have a heart attack. It’s good to have a heart attack. I am having a lot of fun.”
Section 9 of the CBN Act provides that “the Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the Bank and while holding office shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not, except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the Board and which do not conflict with or detract from their full-time duties.”
Justice DC Maidoh of a Delta State High Court, Kwale Division granted an order restraining the Board of Central Bank of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission from stopping Emiefele from seeking an elective post. The application was filed on May 5, 2022, and the judgement was granted on Thursday, May 12.
