The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday said he is having fun over the anxiety associated with his presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Emefiele, stated this when he briefed journalists at the presidential villa after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari.
When journalists inquired to know his views about the anxiety created by his ambition, the apex bank governor said: “Let them have a heart attack. It is good to have a heart attack. I am having a lot of fun.”
Emefiele’s visit was not officially on the State House’s schedule.
Condemnations had trailed his move to contest in the 2023 presidential election on the All Progressives Congress (APC) while presiding over the apex bank.
Last Friday, a group of farmers and businesspersons had purchased the N100m presidential nomination forms of the ruling All Progressive Congress for Emefiele, a move he said he did not influence.
The CBN Governor had earlier gone to court to challenge the Public Service Rule that requires public office holders to resign their positions before contesting elective positions.
Asked to respond to reports that Buhari had directed him to resign, 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”.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has directed the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, ambassadors, heads of agencies, and other government appointees with political ambition to step down.
In a circular issued on Wednesday, the directive affected the CBN Governor who is among the heads of extra-ministerial departments.
Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission has hinted on relocating sensitive electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria to another location.
