2023: Emefiele’s Presidential Ambition Worsens Buhari Succession Crisis

By James Orji

 Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele has broken  his silence on his rumoured presidential ambition a situation that would further polarised the Buhari presidency considering the number of contestants in the administration.

In his first reponse to suggestion that he’s been prevailed upon by some elements in the ruling APC, to contest next year’s presidential election, the apex bank boss said he has placed his future in the hands of God.

Last week, a group ‘The 2022 Committee’  sparked serious reactions from Nigerians after they were accused of meeting in  Lagos with the intention of dragging Emefiele into the 2023 presidential race.

The group made up of more than 25 former governors, prominent politicians and members of the business community had denied supporting any presidential candidate, but those privy to the meeting informed the magazine that their interest may not be unconnected with Emefiele’s presidential ambition.

The Committee, in a statement, said they are not partisan, that the attendees were people of like minds who are trying to ‘rescue Nigeria’ and map out a new consensus for national rebirth for the country.

The group later said in a statement that their meeting was not to support any presidential candidate, even though those privy it, said the essence of the convergence was basically for the presidential ambition of the CBN Governor.

“100 leading business, political, civil society and thought leaders met in Lagos over the last weekend from February 4-6, 2022 under the aegis of The 2022 Committee, in a non-partisan retreat, to map a new consensus for national rebirth.

“The attendance list included 14 current Governors and 13 former Governors as well as 3 former Senate Presidents. Working in 3 Sub-Committees of National Security, The Economy and Nigeria in Transition, the participants recognised that there is an urgent need to seek common ground and irreducible minimum actions to stabilise the polity at this critical time of transition.

“The meetings will continue, as we work with Federal and State Governments, current and future political leaders of all political persuasions, as well as other eminent patriotic citizens, for the greater good of the Nigerian people.

“Whilst The 2022 Committee is interested in the quality of leadership that will emerge in Nigeria at all levels, we consider attempts to link the Committee with candidates or political parties for the 2023 elections as an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction – candidates are only chosen by political parties and we are not a political party,’ the group said in the statement signed by the conveners, Nduka Obaigbena and Kashim Ibrahim-Imam.

In spite of this, some watchers of the CBN Governor said there is enough reasons to believe that some powerful persons in the country, particularly in the ruling APC are planning to install the CBN Governor as president after the exit of the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari.

The feeling that the CBN boss could be drafted into the 2023 presidential contest has even become stronger after Emefiele refused to deny whether he’s interested in race to chose Buhari’s whose tenure expires next year.

Speaking on his rumoured ambition, Emefiele said he has decided to put his faith in God as well as President Buhari, who according to him has “the prerogative ……to plan his succession in line with global best practices for good governance, for the continued peace and progress of the of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Recall that President  Buhari recently said he’s  interested in who succeeds him. He, however,  did not mention his preference among the presidential aspirants, noting that doing so could endanger the person’s  life.

Emefiele  spoke when a group of friends, known as ‘Friends of Emefiele’ paid him a visit in his office.  The group said they wanted to hear from him whether he’s really interested to become president.

Sources in Buhari’s administration said some top aides of the president may have settled for Emefiele in their quest to get a technocrat to succeed their boss. The officials who spoke with the magazine in confidence said the decision to ‘anoint’ Emefiele as a successor is not unconnected with plans in the presidency to frustrate the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor and APC National Leader.

Tinubu who recently made his presidential ambition public is believed not to enjoy the support of Buhari’s top aides, who are said to be seriously searching for a presidential candidate who will not only serve their interests but also acceptable to many Nigerians.

“The reason why Emefiele’s came into the picture is because we thought he has performed well. For instance, the manner he managed the monetary policy, which led the country out of recession, twice, has not stop marveling some of us.

“What the country needs now is not the everyday politician, but a seasoned administrator with the capacity to sustain the achievements of President Buhari, as well as put Nigeria on the trajectory of growth and development,” an official in the administration said craving anonymity.

But those watching the development informed the magazine that Emefiele’s candidature would be a hard sell considering the controversy that has trailed his management of CBN as a government institution. Among other reasons, his critics said Emefiele will be rejected by Nigerians who blame him alongside President Buhari for the country’s economic woes.

Some supporters of President Buhari, under the aegis of Nigeria First Movement,  NFM  recently called for his sack for alleged mismanagement  of the economy.

The group which said the country’s economy jnder Buhari is wobbling, blamed Emefiele  saying the CBN Govrnor “may have made history as the only governor to be re-appointed for a second term in office since the nation’s return to a democratic rule, however, he is best known for surrendering much of the bank’s independence, running a monetary policy that had record negative impact on the economy

“The introduction and subsequent launch of the digital currency, eNaira, is perceived as the final nail in the country’s already doomed economy.

“We are ready to champion the call for Emefiele’s removal by staging a one-week protest that could potentially cripple economic activities in Abuja. We’re also ready to mobilise over 200 other pro-Buhari groups across the globe in the ‘mother of all protests’ that would hold simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and London against the nation’s poor economic posture.

“Emiefele played a pivotal role in the collapse of the economy since his appointment as the CBN chief and before his arrival, the economy was said to be one of the fastest growing in the world. Shortly after his reappointment in 2019, Emefiele announced a five-year plan that targets double-digit growth in one of Africa’s largest economies,” NFM said.

Other critics of the CBN boss noted that the CBN Governor will not stand a chance against Tinubu or Vice President Yermi Osinbajo, who has yet to declare his ambition, but said to be interested in the nation’s top job.

The critics of the administration said the plan to draft Emefiele into the presidential race will further polarized the presidency considering that number of top officials of the administration showing interest to succeed President Buhari is swelling by the day.

Apart from Osinbajo, Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, who was recently turbaned by the Emir of Katsina, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva, Abubakar Malami are among those that have been suggested as presidential hopefuls.

Meanwhile,  ‘Friends of Emefiele’ insist that the CBN Governor has what it takes to run for the highest office in the country, even though he has not confirmed whether he will run or not.

The question is will the CBN Govrnor be bold enough to throw his hat in the presidential ring.