Nigeria: Groups Urge Central Bank Chief Godwin Emefiele to Join Race for Presidency

By Derrick Bangura.

The Mass Interest Project (TMIP) and The Youth For Transparency Initiative (TYTI) have both called on Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to run for President in 2023.

The Mass Interest Project has asked Emefiele to enter the presidential election in 2023 by throwing his hat in the ring.
TMIP said in a statement titled “The Charge 2023” released over the weekend that the country’s next president should be an experienced entrepreneur or business leader and that the person best suited to take over the mantle of leadership in the country was none other than CBN Governor.

In a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna, President of the TYTI, Koko Umar, said the CBN governor was one of the great Nigerians who had proved competence and capacity in public service and should be trusted with the country’s leadership.

According to the group, Emefiele’s accomplishments as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria qualify him to run for president in 2023.
“The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Godwin Emefiele, is one of the great Nigerians who has contributed to the country’s progress,” the group said.

“As expected, there is already tension across the country,” according to TMIP. Nigerians are beginning to feel the heat as political gladiators take to the hustings, refining their skill to know how to play the game with merciless efficiency, from East to West, North to South.

“These are men and women who are specialists in political trickery, intimidation, and blackmail, as well as the acts of violence, which they readily use to extract retribution or force conformity to their will and want.”
“They’re also good at making promises they can’t keep or don’t have the resources to back up.” They have ruled the coast since the First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic, and the Fourth Republic, and have continued to do so until the current political dispensation.
“On our journey to greatness, we, the people, work to create the Nigeria of our dreams!” We march, defending the vision and liberty to build the Nigeria we believe in, not as career politicians, but as citizens with an equal stake in this Republic.

“Yes, we’re on the move, looking for our country’s future leader.” We’ve identified a man who has a demonstrated track record of devotion, patriotism, and appreciation of the importance of long-term growth. A man whose name implies a meeting with fate.

“Godwin Ifeanyichukwu” (Godwin Ifeanyichukwu) Would you like to lead our people on this march for a better Nigeria, Emefiele? Would you like to take the helm of The Charge 2023?
Similarly, the TYTI stated that since his appointment as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2014, Emefiele has worked tirelessly to establish a solid financial system that would help the country’s economy grow.

“His tireless efforts at the central bank have aided the Nigerian economy in navigating turbulent economic hurdles to growth and inclusion in policy formation and implementation.”
“Under Emefiele, the (CBN) is more people-oriented, with policies and programs geared toward assisting small businesses and job development. Under his tenure, the CBN implemented a number of initiatives aimed at boosting the economy, creating jobs, and pulling people out of poverty. Under his leadership, the CBN established 37 intervention funds aimed at boosting the economy and reducing unemployment.

“Through development finance initiatives, the bank granted N756.51 billion to 3,734,938 smallholder farmers, with N120.24 billion extended to 627,051 farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) for the 2021 Wet Season,” the organization stated.
According to the organization, this has revolutionized rice production in Nigeria, saving the country about N356 billion in annual rice importation costs, which had previously harmed local production.
“The rice pyramid, which was recently displayed in Abuja, is proof that we have broken the rice importation chains,” it stated.
The statement also praised Emefiele’s work on the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), which saw the CBN distribute N3.0 billion to 7,057 beneficiaries, including 4,411 individuals and 2,646 SMEs.

“Under the Creative Industry Financing Initiative, N3.22 billion was disbursed to 356 beneficiaries spanning the movie production, distribution, software development, fashion, and IT verticals” (CIFI)

“The CBN also disbursed N923.41 billion to 251 real sector projects under the N1.0 trillion Real Sector Facility, of which 87 were in light manufacturing, 40 in agro-based industry, 32 in services, and 11 in mining.”
Under the bank’s Healthcare Sector Intervention Facility, the CBN disbursed N98.41 billion for 103 health projects (HSIF).
“These are only a few of Emefiele’s many accomplishments during his seven years at the top bank.
“His substantial support for the Nigerian economy through the use of intervention money to stimulate growth is commendable.

“He has proven to be a dedicated and committed public servant with a track record that will go down in history.”

It is for this reason that the TYTI is pleading with Emefiele to run for president in 2023.”

The group urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate Emefiele as the best candidate for the presidency in 2023, stating that “Emefiele is the best because he has exhibited competence and capacity that qualifies him to be President of Nigeria.”
Several organisations have been calling for the CBN governor’s declaration of interest in the 2023 presidential election for the past several weeks, claiming that the country has reached a point when technocrats are needed to take over the reins of power and shepherd it out of its current dilemma.