EXTRA: Let people have heart attack… I’m having fun, says Emefiele on presidential bid

Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says he isn’t bothered about the speculations around his interest in contesting the presidency in the 2023 polls.

He said this on Thursday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Three support groups recently purchased the presidential nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for him.

The CBN governor had, however, said he would purchase the form himself if he decides to contest.

Following his reaction, there have been calls for his resignation, but the CBN governor later filed a case at the federal high court in Abuja, asking for a ruling allowing him to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

The matter is yet to be decided.

On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a memo addressed to heads of agencies and parastatals — including the CBN — directed all appointees interested in contesting in the general election, to resign.

Speaking on Thursday when asked by state house correspondents if he would resign, Emefiele refused to give a direct answer.

“There is no news now, but there will be news. You heard me, I said there is no news but there will be news,” he said.

On if he was bothered about the speculations generated over if he would contest the presidency, Emefiele said: “Let them have heart attack; it’s good to have heart attack; I am having a lot of fun.”