President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to hand over.
The directive is reportedly contained in a memo from office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha.
The memo followed an earlier directive to members of the Federal Executive Council to resign if they have the ambition of contesting for any office in the 2023 general election.
In the circular issued by Mustapha on Buhari’s directive, heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies, parastatals of government, ambassadors and other political office holders who have the interest to contest the upcoming presidential, gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections were also affected.
According to the circular, affected ministers are to hand over to Ministers of State where applicable, or to the Permanent Secretary where there is no Minister of State. Ambassadors shall hand over to their Deputy Heads of Mission or the most Senior Foreign Service Officer in line with established practices.
Similarly, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Parastatals are to hand over to the most senior Director/Officer as may be peculiar to the organisation.
The circular reads: “Mr. President has observed and noted the expression of interest and intention by some members of the Federal Executive Council, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies, Parastatals of Government, Ambassadors and other Political Office holders to contest the upcoming Presidential, Gubernatorial, National and State Assemblies’ elections.
“Consequently, Mr. President has directed that the affected office holders aspiring to run for various offices in the 2023 general elections, should tender their resignation on or before Monday, the 16th of May, 2022.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this directive affects all Ministers, Heads and Members of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Parastatals of Government, Ambassadors as well as other political appointees who desire to contest for elective offices.
“For smooth running of the machinery of government and our foreign Missions, affected Ministers are to hand over to Ministers of State where they exist or to the Permanent Secretary, where there is no Minister of State, Ambassadors shall hand over to their Deputy Heads of Mission or the most Senior Foreign Service Officer in line with established practices.
“Similarly, Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Parastatals are to hand over to the most senior Director/Officer as may be peculiar to the organisation, in line with the service wide Circular No. SGF 50/S. I/C 2/268 of 4 December, 2017”.
Meanwhile, Emefiele visited Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, at the end of which he told reporters “there will be news”
Although Emefiele is yet to declare his intention to run for the presidency, a group of farmers has obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for him.
He has also approached a court seeking to be declared eligible to contest the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) billed for May 30 without resigning.
Though Emefiele has disowned the group, posters and several vehicles branded for his reported presidential campaign have surfaced in Abuja.
Approached by journalists after his meeting with the President and reminded of the presidential directive to immediately quit office, the CBN boss said: “There is no news now, but there will be news. You heard me, I said there is no news, but there will be news”.
Reminded that his reported ambition is creating anxiety among Nigerians and the international community, Emefiele said he is having fun over the development.
“Let them have heart attack. It’s good to have heart attack. I am having a lot of fun,” he said.