GLITZ TV
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has addressed speculations surrounding the presidential ambitions of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, during the 2023 elections. Buhari explained that he did not remove Emefiele from his position because there was no concrete evidence to support the claims.
In his memoir titled ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015 – 2023),’ written by his former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari clarified his decision. He stated that he did not question Emefiele about his alleged presidential aspirations because there were no indications or announcements made by Emefiele himself. Buhari further emphasized that it would be unfair and unjust to remove someone from their position based solely on hearsay.
Buhari explained, “If you punish a man unjustly, it could dog his footsteps throughout life, so if you would punish, you must have evidence, and you should know that yourself wouldn’t be there forever. You would leave one day. I’m very conscious about the morale of people who serve with me. I also expect whoever succeeds me to be fair to me. I have family, friends who will feel it. I’m very conscious of fairness.”
During the unveiling ceremony of the book, President Bola Tinubu commended Buhari for his hands-off approach since leaving office in 2023. Tinubu mentioned that Buhari had assured him of non-interference in his administration, stating, “After handing over, you (Buhari) said, ‘I will be far away in Daura, but if you need me, contact me. I won’t intrude on whatever you are doing. I won’t interfere. I won’t breathe down on your throat.'”
Regarding Emefiele’s potential presidential candidacy, on May 7, 2022, he revealed that he was seeking divine guidance on whether or not to contest for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket in the upcoming primary. Emefiele acknowledged the support of a group of farmers and businesspeople who had obtained the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms on his behalf, urging him to run for president. However, he also highlighted that participating in the contest would require him to dip into his “hard-earned savings” accumulated over 35 years of service.
Buhari’s explanation sheds light on his decision not to remove Emefiele from his position at the CBN amid speculations about his political ambitions. The former president’s emphasis on fairness and the need for concrete evidence reflects his commitment to maintaining a just and balanced approach to governance. As the political landscape continues to evolve, Emefiele’s potential candidacy remains a topic of interest among observers of Nigerian politics.
