Ex-CBN chief, Moghalu to run for presidency

A former Deputy Governor of the CBN, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu,
announced on Monday that he was consulting widely to run for the
presidency in 2019.

Moghalu told political correspondents in Lagos that time had
come for technocrats, intellectuals and experienced people to take
power from Nigeria’s career politicians.

He said that he would not be deterred from joining the race, in
spite of speculations that 2023 was the year slated for Igbos to
have a shot at the presidency.

Moghalu argued that politics in Nigeria should be detribalised
for Africa’s most populous nation to grow and take its rightful
place in the comity of nations.

“It is the turn of any competent Nigerian to aspire for the post
of presidency because career politicians have failed Nigeria.’’

He said that zoning, which had been used by the major political
parties, might have been relevant in the past but that it was no
longer necessary because competence should be placed above tribe in
present day Nigeria.

“Zoning was an internal arrangement by political parties that
was not constitutional. It should no longer matter where the
president comes from.

“The future of Nigeria rests in technocratic interventions. We
need thinking people that will take Nigeria from the politics of
stomach infrastructure to politics of mental infrastructure.’’

The former CBN chief said that the first part to progress for
Nigeria was for the people to begin to think differently and beyond
tribe in choosing those who would lead them.

Speaking on a second term for President Muhammadu Buhari,
Moghalu said that the president had constitutional rights to seek
re-election.

“I don’t fathom how anyone can say the president should not run
for a second term. It is his choice, the decision on who becomes
Nigeria’s president in 2019 rests with Nigerians. ‘’

On the nation’s economy, the economist pointed out that “the
economy was in a delicate situation before the present
administration.

“The handling of the forex crisis though was misguided. The drop
in oil prices actually affected the value of our currency but
government should have simply allowed the naira to find its true
value which would have reduced the inflation rate.’’

He said that Nigeria must look beyond continued dependence on
oil and encourage independent institutions to flourish.

Moghalu, however, advised Nigerians to eschew docility and
become more forceful in demanding accountability from their leaders
at all levels of governance.

Moghalu, who served as CBN deputy governor from 2009 to 2014, is
a political economist, lawyer and a former United Nations
official.

He was also a professor of practice in international business
and public policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at
Tufts University in Massachusetts, U.S.

Born on May 7, 1963, Moghalu is a graduate of the London School
of Economics. He also read Political Science at the University of
Nigeria Nsukka.

(NAN)

A former Deputy Governor of the CBN, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu,
announced on Monday that he was consulting widely to run for the
presidency in 2019.

Moghalu told political correspondents in Lagos that time had
come for technocrats, intellectuals and experienced people to take
power from Nigeria’s career politicians.

He said that he would not be deterred from joining the race, in
spite of speculations that 2023 was the year slated for Igbos to
have a shot at the presidency.

Moghalu argued that politics in Nigeria should be detribalised
for Africa’s most populous nation to grow and take its rightful
place in the comity of nations.

“It is the turn of any competent Nigerian to aspire for the post
of presidency because career politicians have failed Nigeria.’’

He said that zoning, which had been used by the major political
parties, might have been relevant in the past but that it was no
longer necessary because competence should be placed above tribe in
present day Nigeria.

“Zoning was an internal arrangement by political parties that
was not constitutional. It should no longer matter where the
president comes from.

“The future of Nigeria rests in technocratic interventions. We
need thinking people that will take Nigeria from the politics of
stomach infrastructure to politics of mental infrastructure.’’

The former CBN chief said that the first part to progress for
Nigeria was for the people to begin to think differently and beyond
tribe in choosing those who would lead them.

Speaking on a second term for President Muhammadu Buhari,
Moghalu said that the president had constitutional rights to seek
re-election.

“I don’t fathom how anyone can say the president should not run
for a second term. It is his choice, the decision on who becomes
Nigeria’s president in 2019 rests with Nigerians. ‘’

On the nation’s economy, the economist pointed out that “the
economy was in a delicate situation before the present
administration.

“The handling of the forex crisis though was misguided. The drop
in oil prices actually affected the value of our currency but
government should have simply allowed the naira to find its true
value which would have reduced the inflation rate.’’

He said that Nigeria must look beyond continued dependence on
oil and encourage independent institutions to flourish.

Moghalu, however, advised Nigerians to eschew docility and
become more forceful in demanding accountability from their leaders
at all levels of governance.

Moghalu, who served as CBN deputy governor from 2009 to 2014, is
a political economist, lawyer and a former United Nations
official.

He was also a professor of practice in international business
and public policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at
Tufts University in Massachusetts, U.S.

Born on May 7, 1963, Moghalu is a graduate of the London School
of Economics. He also read Political Science at the University of
Nigeria Nsukka.

(NAN)