Arewa Youths for Emefiele plan to buy APC presidential nomination for CBN governor

CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele could be coerced into running for president next year after all as a coalition of northern groups Arewa Youths for Emefiele has announced plans to buy him a presidential nomination form.

A technocrat with no political experience, Mr Emefiele has never even been a member a political party before but apparently, some of President Muhammadu Buhari's close confidants are rooting for him. It is those not clear how he will stand or how President Buhari will manage to secure him the presidential ticket of his All Progressives Congress (APC).

Apparently, some hard core Buhari loyalists believe Mr Emefiele can be trusted to keep the patronage of the north alive without rocking the boat. So far, Mr Emefiele has not even announced his candidacy but the Arewa Youths for Emefiele has announced plans to purchase an APC nomination form for him.

Comrade Dauda Kushu, the convener of the movement, said they deemed it fit to purchase the form for Mr Emefiele because of his sterling performance, professionalism, good economic management and his robust contributions towards curtailing insecurity, fighting corruption and promoting innovation. He added that Mr Emefiele’s potential positioned him as a vision-driven and target-focused leader who would help Nigerian youths unleash their creative talents, innovative energies and resourcefulness.

According to Comrade Kushu, all of this will make Nigerian youths extraordinary citizens and sterling ambassadors, as present and future leaders. He also extolled Mr Emefiele as the first CBN governor to harness Nigeria’s non-oil export potential, boost domestic output and increase agricultural productivity.

Comrade Kushu added: “Nigeria requires a leader like Emefiele, who was born in the country’s south, understands the country’s north and has a profound knowledge of ethnicities, economies and businesses to sustain the country in one united entity. When the majority of our earnings are spent on service loans and other commitments, there is no better time to enlist the help of a technocrat.

"At a time like this, we need someone who can inspire confidence in both domestic and international investors not a novice who will learn on the job but a young man with extensive knowledge of the world economy. He has exhibited all of the qualities that make a strong leader and he is a reliable and devoted supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Under his leadership, the CBN implemented several initiatives aimed at boosting the economy, creating jobs, and raising people out of poverty. With his rise from the private sector to a government institution, erstwhile serving as the chief executive of Zenith Bank, from which he was named the CBN governor, he was able to raise the standard of business operations while maintaining a people-centric approach characteristic of governance."