With about a year to the end of the tenure of Mallam Sanusi Lamido as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there are indications that the Managing Director of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhede is being considered for the job by the Presidency and key cabinet members.
Sanusi had in March confirmed that he would not be seeking a second term, kickstarting intense lobbying for the job.
Names that have been linked with the position besides Aig-Imoukehede have included Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda; Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Atedo Peterside and a renowned economist and Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane.
Imoukhede is said to have gotten the support of Sanusi and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who sold his candidature to President Goodluck Jonathan.
This caused President Jonathan to shift support from Peterside, who hails from the same region as the President. Peterside himself was said to have been relying heavily on Sanusi for his endorsement, using their Kings’ College connections as leverage.
His nomination does not come as a surprise to industry watchers as he has been the unofficial personal assistant to the incumbent CBN Governor. Apart from defending Sanusi’s policy at any given forum, he is said to have been understudying him in the last two years.
Imoukhuede a member of the Nigeria Economic Management Team (NEMT) is also believed to be a member of the ‘kitchen cabinet’ of President Jonathan which has seen him handling many committees including that of the fuel subsidy.
A financial analyst who pleaded anonymity told this correspondent that the industry is already expecting Imoukhuede to succeed Sanusi as the next CBN Governor.
According to him, over time, Sanusi has seen Imoukhuede as somebody he can trust and rely on, stressing that the duo are always together at every event.
“We will not be surprised. Imoukhuede is a brilliant young man. He knows what he wants and will always go for it. Apart from Sanusi, he is close to his colleagues and even the Presidency. I wish him good luck,” he said.