President Muhammadu Buhari has defended Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele over his bid to become President.
Buhari said there was nothing wrong with his move and he didn’t contravene the CBN Act in the process as claimed by many.
The Nigerian President in an interview with Bloomberg said the onus was on the CBN’s Board of Directors to determine if Emefiele had fallen short of the apex bank’s code of conduct.
“The CBN governor is appointed by the President. But this appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
“Ultimately, it will be for the CBN’s board of directors to determine whether a CBN governor’s actions have fallen foul of the laws in place to ensure he can most effectively carry out his duties.
“But there is a subtext to the accusations. Because the governor follows a model outside of the economic orthodoxy, he is labelled political. But the orthodoxy has proved wrong time and again.
“Instead, the governor is following an alternative economic model that puts people at the heart of policy. Nigeria should be free to choose its development model and how to construct our economy, so it functions for Nigerians.”
Emefiele had been rumoured to be nursing a Presidential ambition with his posters and branded buses seen across the country. Criticisms had come in the wake of his interest, as he sued the Nigerian government and insisted it was his right to contest for office.
He, however stood down as he didn’t go through with his ambition.