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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Not Interested in 2023 Presidential Race

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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Not Interested in 2023 Presidential Race

Why Powerful Nigerians Are Rooting For Him

No doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari bears, like a badge, an indecipherable flame of affection for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Honestly, his love for Emefiele resonates, even as you read, as a melody of faith whose mutuality and passionate intensity appear to make it untarnished and priceless.

Of course, this can, however, be attributed to Emefiele’s undisguised passion for Nigeria and Nigerians.

There is no gainsaying that the Delta State-born banker has lived a remarkable and eventful life. Despite rising from humble beginnings to assume leadership of the nation’s apex banking institution, he has remained humble and uncompromising of his values. He has maintained a culture of unflinching uprightness and unwavering commitment to the collective good and has remained a staunch patriot and advocate of the common man. This, among others, guarantees his place in the pantheon of Nigeria’s finest citizens.

But, rumour is that alchemy of quiet malice by which mischief-makers concoct a subtle poison from ordinary trifles. No wonder why the CBN governor is perplexed that his name is now being thrown up as a possible candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

For the past few days, there had been a groundswell of speculations that some of Nigeria’s most powerful and wealthiest businessmen and governors within the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are pushing for the candidacy of a neutral south-south person, preferably, a technocrat in the 2023 Presidential election. This powerful coalition reportedly met in Abuja and Lagos days apart to decide on a president who understands the ease of doing business, the plight of the private sector, and the undercurrents of international business in the 21st Century.

The CBN governor was unanimously pinpointed as the ideal man. One of the reasons reportedly being adduced for his choice is that he is eminently qualified for the top job especially as agitations for a candidate of South-south extraction continue to gather traction.

Though a Delta Igbo, Emefiele speaks Yoruba fluently. Before his banking career, he was a lecturer in Finance and Insurance in two Nigerian Universities. He holds degrees in Banking and Finance from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and is also an alumnus of Stanford University, Harvard, and Wharton Graduate Schools of Business where he took courses in Negotiation, Service Excellence, Critical Thinking, Leading Change, and Strategy. Before joining the CBN, he spent over 26 years in commercial banking culminating in his tenure as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank PLC, one of Nigeria’s largest banks.

He is also regarded as a child of destiny because he did not lobby for his elevation as Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank. Neither did he lobby the PDP government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, which appointed him CBN governor in 2014. Interestingly, despite being a PDP appointee, he was retained by the new APC government of President Buhari. To underscore how much confidence the president reposes in him, he reappointed Emefiele for a second term of five years as CBN governor in May 2019.

Sources close to the president said he appreciates Emefiele for helping Nigeria to experience stable monetary policies, even as it did not witness any crude oil windfall, which is the backbone of the economy. Conversely, the oil price volatility impacted not only the country’s revenue base, but the inflow of foreign exchange (forex), stoking currency depreciation, system arbitrage, and consequent policy measures, leading to calls for the devaluation of the naira.

The CBN governor’s ability to hold on to his belief in the economy and not allow the ship to sink on his watch may have also earned him the second term. Also, through his monetary policies and even interventions in fiscal issues over the past seven years, Emefiele has insisted that the country still holds a high return on investment with huge opportunities given its over the 200-million-people market.

Emefiele oversaw Nigeria’s widely acclaimed response to plummeting oil prices, spiraling inflation, significant exchange rate pressures, sharp fall in forex inflows, delisting of Nigeria from the JP Morgan Bond Index, normalisation of U.S. monetary policy, geopolitical tensions amongst global superpowers, and overall uncertainty after the change of administration in 2015.

Indeed, the stability he brought into the system has been attributed to his innovative Investors and Exporters Window worth $25 billion, which liberalised official transactions of forex, as well as the directive to banks to sell forex to customers over the counter for basic travel allowance (BTA) and medical and education bills.

Beyond forex stability, which saw massive accretion in Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves from about $23 billion in October 2016 to nearly $48 billion in June 2018, Emefiele’s policies also significantly helped Nigeria achieve a fast recovery from recession, which was caused by sharp and sustained oil price declines from 2015 through 2017.

In the area of fiscal interventions, the CBN governor sustained large-scale financing of agriculture through the innovative Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which has disbursed hundreds of billions of naira in small loans to hundreds of thousands of peasant farmers, thereby creating millions of jobs across the country. As evidence of the new discipline through tight monetary policies, his tenure has witnessed unprecedented profits in the banking industry, with GT Bank and Zenith Bank leading the way with record performances.

With all these, Emefiele succeeded in facilitating major improvement in Nigeria’s ranking on the World Bank’s Doing Business Indicators through the creation of the collateral registry and credit reference bureaus.

This record of achievements is why the coalition believes that Emefiele is eminently qualified to succeed President Buhari and steer the ship of state aright.

However, sources close to the CBN governor say emphatically that he is not interested in the top job. Rather, he is content seeing through his term and enthroning a Central Bank that is professional, apolitical, and people-focused.

Governor Emefiele, according to sources very close to him, has neither privately or publicly expressed interest or desire to contest for any election. Going by the highlighted fact, a powerful source maintained that, “If the records must be set straight, the Governor that I know is one straightforward individual who does not shy away from taking responsibility for his intentions or actions.

“Consequently, if he is interested in contesting, by now, he would have appropriately put the issue in the public domain without having to cut corners.”

Emefiele, he stressed, by virtue of his antecedents and pedigree is eminently qualified to run in 2023

“Nevertheless, a popular adage says that you cannot shave a man’s hair in his absence. Therefore, if and when he decides to throw his hat into the ring, the good people of Nigerians will be adequately put in the picture.

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Tunde Olaogun Honoured as Tayese of Oluwo: A Celebration of Dedication and Service

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Tunde Olaogun Honoured as Tayese of Oluwo: A Celebration of Dedication and Service

 

It is with great excitement and humility that socialite-turned-politician Tunde Olaogun announced his conferment as the Tayese of Oluwo, Iju-Ogundimu, Lagos. Speaking during a recent chat with The Message International, Olaogun described the prestigious traditional title as a testament to his unwavering commitment and contributions to the development of the community.

According to sources, the traditional council recognized Olaogun’s relentless efforts and selfless service, deeming him worthy of this esteemed honor. The conferment ceremony, a grand cultural celebration, is scheduled for April 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. Although the exact date is yet to be confirmed, the event is expected to draw dignitaries, family, friends, and well-wishers from far and wide.

Expressing his gratitude, Olaogun pledged to continue serving the community with humility and dedication. “I feel deeply honoured and sincerely appreciative for this prestigious title. I see it as a challenge to be even more involved in the development of our community,” he said.

The forthcoming ceremony will undoubtedly be a landmark occasion, symbolizing not just a personal milestone for Olaogun but also a proud moment for the entire Iju-Ogundimu community.

Tunde Olaogun Honoured as Tayese of Oluwo: A Celebration of Dedication and Service

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Social Media Erupts as Tochi Claims Most Women Would Ditch Marriage for N100M

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BBNaija’s Tochi Sparks Controversy with Bold Claim on Women and Financial Independence

By Femi Oyewale

 

LAGOS, NIGERIA – Former Big Brother Naija star, Tochi, has set social media ablaze with his provocative claim about the impact of financial empowerment on marriages. Taking to his Instagram story, Tochi suggested that many women remain in their marriages primarily due to financial dependence.

“If you give 100 married women N100 million each to go establish themselves, in two weeks, 95 will leave their marriage,” Tochi wrote, igniting a heated online debate.

Social Media Erupts as Tochi Claims Most Women Would Ditch Marriage for N100M

A Controversial Statement That Went Viral

Tochi’s assertion quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from netizens. Some supported his viewpoint, arguing that financial constraints force many women to endure unhappy marriages. Others, however, countered that marriage is built on more than just financial stability and that love, commitment, and companionship play significant roles.

A social media user @verapatrick commented, “I think what he is trying to say is that most married women are treated so bad that if they have financial freedom, they would rather be single.”

Another user, @edafe_vanvic, added: “A lot of meaning to that sentence. It also means that 95 percent of women are in marriages for survival purposes. They are just in it to make someone else responsible for their financial lives 😂. If they finally become financially independent, they will no longer find marriage interesting 🤨 because, to them, the man would have nothing else to offer them 😂.”

Tochi’s comments have sparked broader conversations about the dynamics of financial dependence in relationships. While some argue that financial empowerment can help women make independent choices about their happiness, others believe that marriage should be based on love and mutual respect, not just financial security.

The former reality TV star has not yet responded to the backlash, but his post has certainly ignited discussions on gender roles, financial independence, and the true foundations of a lasting marriage.

As opinions continue to pour in, Tochi’s statement has once again highlighted the ongoing societal debate about money, marriage, and gender dynamics. Whether one agrees or disagrees, one thing is certain – the conversation is far from over.

 

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AY Makun Slams AI Deepfake Scandal: ‘Stop Tearing People Down!’”

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AY Makun Slams AI Deepfake Scandal: ‘Stop Tearing People Down!’"

AY Makun Slams AI Deepfake Scandal: ‘Stop Tearing People Down!’”

 

Popular comedian and actor AY Makun has strongly reacted to a manipulated Artificial Intelligence (AI) video falsely depicting him kissing businesswoman May Edochie.

 

The controversy erupted after May Edochie was spotted traveling in business class with AY Makun en route to the highly anticipated UK premiere of The Waiter, set to hit theaters on January 31, 2025. Shortly after their travel photos surfaced, an AI-generated video of them allegedly sharing a kiss began circulating online, fueling wild speculations.

Addressing the scandal, AY took to social media to denounce the fake video and called out online trolls for their relentless smear campaigns. He expressed frustration over repeated attempts to tarnish his reputation and sabotage his working relationships, referencing a past controversy where reality star Alex Unusual was also falsely linked to him.

In his passionate statement, AY urged social media users to redirect their creativity toward constructive efforts rather than fueling baseless rumors.

AY’s Full Response:

“Dear Online Innovators, As the future leaders and change-makers of Nigeria, I urge you to channel your immense creative talents toward building a better nation rather than tearing each other down. Nigeria is rich with potential, and your unique skills—be it in art, music, technology, or entrepreneurship—can be pivotal in driving positive change.”

He further lamented the toxic culture of online defamation, questioning why people continue to drive away those who work with him.

“The other time, it was the poor @alex_unusual who is yet to come out of all the lies and narratives meted out on her person for choosing always to support a family who was a major part of her brand growth. Must you all chase away everyone working with me or trying to earn an honest living through me?”

Despite the controversy, AY redirected attention to the real reason for their trip—The Waiter movie premiere. He urged fans to use their talents to promote the film rather than spread misinformation.

With the rise of deepfake technology, AY’s case highlights growing concerns about AI-generated misinformation and its potential to harm reputations. While social media remains divided on the matter, many fans and colleagues have rallied behind the comedian, condemning the false video and calling for responsible digital content creation.

As the drama unfolds, one thing remains clear—AY Makun is not backing down against internet falsehoods.

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