2023 presidency: Allies defend Emefiele

Allies of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, have accused some people of blackmailing him over the 2023 presidential race.

The allies, in an advertorial, titled: ‘Who is Afraid of Godwin Emefiele’, Monday said they wondered why those people “are catching a cold even when the apex bank governor had not sneezed.”

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The advertorial partly read: “In the past few weeks, there have been media reports on the purported interest of the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, in the 2023 presidential race, leading to stampede by interested parties and vested interests who are resorting to all sorts of blackmail, sponsored articles and choreographed comments on social media targeted at tainting Godwin Emefiele’s image, impugning his character and legacy.

“Clearly, the negative attacks are being sponsored by those who see Emefiele as a major threat to their political ambition.

“Truth is Godwin Emefiele has not confirmed to anyone he is running for President even as he is constitutionally qualified to do so; he has been under pressure in the past few weeks as different groups have been putting up unsolicited campaigns for his candidacy.

“Only yesterday, as the speculation became widespread, a group of his friends under the ages met with him to clarify his positions.”

The allies said Emefiele had said on several occasions that he remained focused on his job and would continue supporting the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government’s economic recovery drive.