After denying his rumoured presidential bid, Emefiele’s campaign intensifies

Five days after the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele dismissed his rumoured presidential bid, the campaign for him to contest for president in the 2023 presidential election continues. 

Emefiele had on Monday, March 28, 2022, in a series of tweets described his rumoured presidential ambition as a distraction, saying he was focused on fighting inflation in the country.

In February, it was reported that the CBN governor had bought three airplanes for his presidential campaign.

The report also stated that Emefiele had allocated about N500 billion for his presidential ambition.

But he denied the report, saying it was fake news.

Despite his denial, there are indications that the CBN Governor is interested in and preparing for the 2023 presidential election. 

Recently, a group under the aegis of Unified Northern Nigeria Youth Forum, called on Emefiele to join the 2023 presidential race.

The Convener of the group, Salihu Danlami said the CBN governor was urged to vie for the presidency because of the numerous and laudable achievements he has recorded as the governor of the apex bank.

Another pressure group, The Green Alliance, led by Wale Fapohunda has also been pushing for Emefiele's presidency.

The group believes that a vote for the CBN Governor will be a vote for the consolidation of the programmes and policies of the present administration.

Again on Saturday, April 2, 2022, photos of Emefiele’s branded vehicle for the 2023 campaign surfaced on social media. 

The photos got many Nigerians to question Emefiele’s political move as the CBN governor has neither confirmed nor denied the vehicles purportedly branded for his presidential campaign. 

Emefiele joined Twitter in January 2022, but his first tweet on the social media platform on Wednesday, February 2023, was posted to debunk and label the report about the three aircraft he allegedly acquired for his rumoured presidential bid as fake news. 

However, while Emefiele reacted to the aircraft report the same day it was published, the CBN governor is yet to comment on the branded vehicles purportedly acquired for his presidential campaign 24 hours after.

Meanwhile, ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has defended Emefiele saying the CBN governor is innocent of the 2023 elections campaign flying around. 

He said the photos of the campaign vehicles that flooded social media were acquired by Emefiele’s detractors, who want to taint him.

“It has come to my knowledge that those vehicles purportedly for the campaign of Emefiele are a red herring by a fifth columnist. The man is innocent and his detractors just want to taint him.

“I will not allow myself to be the instrument of someone else’s mischief!” he said.

However, since the photos of the branded vehicles surfaced on Twitter, Nigerians on the social media platform have been expressing their opinions on the development. 

Many condemned the CBN Governor’s partisanship, while others believe his campaign despite the denials would not have intensified without President Muhammadu Buhari’s consent.

Below are some of Nigerian’s reactions to Emefiele’s rumoured presidential ambition.