*Gets assurance of job security
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on wide range of political developments.
Though the agenda of the meeting was not made public, Aso Rock sources said it might not be unconnected with the President’s directive to Emefiele and other political appointees seeking elective positions in the 2023 general elections to resign without delay.
Emefiele, in their discussion, was said to have opted to remain in office as CBN Governor, while begging Buhari to retain him in the alternative of jettisoning his presidential ambition.
Buhari officially communicated to the affected appointees through a secular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, in Abuja.
The circular read: “Mr. President has observed the intention by some members of the Federal Executive Council and other political office holders, to contest the upcoming presidential, gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections, and decided that due process must be followed,” noting that the later circular was to clarify confusion in certain quarters regarding the fate of appointees who are not cabinet members, Emefiele inclusive, stressing that “Mr. President had further directed that heads of extra-ministerial departments, agencies and parastatals of government, among others, should resign,” giving them up to May 16 to do so.
Satisfied that Mr. President may have forgiven him, in the interim, Emefiele was said to have spoken with State House correspondents with an Ostrich pride when cornered for comments after the meeting.
He said: “I’m having fun at the scenario. Let them have heart attack. It’s good to have heart attack. I am having a lot of fun.”