2023: APC Big Wigs Wooing Emefiele To Join Presidential Race – Reports

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele is reportedly being wooed by some big wigs in the All Progressive Congress, APC to join the 2023 presidential race.

Naija News recalls that the economist was first appointed CBN Governor under the then Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration led by Goodluck Jonathan.

Though the Delta State-born is said to be non-partisan till this moment, top members of the ruling party are reportedly making moves to draft him into the fold ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Emefiele’s second tenure as CBN Governor will lapse in 2024 and APC chieftains including some state governors are said to be seeking to get him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

A source who confided in Daily Trust alleged that the CBN governor has received strong backing from a section of the Presidency and some APC governors to throw his hat in the ring.

Naija News understands that Emefiele if he accepts to join the race, will have to battle for the 2023 Presidential ticket with the likes of Bola Tinubu (the national leader of APC), Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and possibly Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is yet to publicly make a declaration.

One of the sources reportedly close to the corridors of power in Abuja said Emefiele might likely be chosen if at the end of the day the permutations favoured the South.

“The man has endeared himself to those close to President Buhari, including among the inner caucus.

“In fact, this is basically why his tenure as CBN governor was renewed even though he was first appointed by the previous administration. He knows how to play his game well as head of the apex financial institution as well as a politician,” Daily Trust quoted the source saying.

Another source said top northern captains of industry are also amenable to him.

“I don’t want to call names but Emefiele has the backing of top businessmen because he gave them all the support they need. Thousands of Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) have also benefitted from the at least 37 different interventions by the CBN,” he said.

It was further gathered that serving governors who are close to the president have been packaging the apex bank czar before the president.

It was revealed that a meeting between the governors, Emefiele and President Buhari held in Daura during the Eid el-Kabir, last year, was part of the move to secure a ticket for the CBN governor.