The excellent presentation of the YPP’s candidate, Kingsley Moghalu at the Presidential Debate, increased his popularity. As the three players (Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili and Moghalu) onstage demonstrated to Nigerians what the future could hold for our political space. Though the absence of the two lead actors, All Progressive Congress’ Muhammadu Buhari People’s Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, from the Presidential Debate was certainly an anti-climax.
However, with the rising support for Moghalu, at least the YPP and his supporters can hope it will translate into election victory in the polls on Saturday, February 16.
Kingsley Moghalu
The 56-year-old Moghalu was a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and served in other capacities, including the United Nations. As CBN Deputy Governor, Moghalu led the implementation of the remarkable Banking Reforms in 2008 during the global economic crisis that ensured that no Nigerian Bank failed and no depositor lost a kobo of his/her savings in the banks.
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He declared to run for president of Nigeria in February 2018 and emerged the flagbearer of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). His running mate is a 37–year-old, Umma Getso.
Moghalu who has received endorsements from prominent Nigerians like Wole Soyinka and the Citizens Forum and bodies, like the Youth Leaders Forum of the Southern and Middlebelt. The latter’s spokesperson,Ikechukwu Oji discouraging voter apathy especially in the southeast, as encouraged by IPOB leadership optimistically explains:
“Other parties’ manifestos or agenda on restructuring seem vague. Most of them are just paying lip service to the issue. But we believe that Moghalu is somebody that can be trusted to make Nigeria better.”
Showing a deep understanding of the Nigerian situation, Moghalu campaigns across Nigeria with the slogan “It is Time!” In a tweet, he condemns the established political order saying:
“I think therefore that the 2019 election is a choice between the future and the past. I believe that any vote for the #APC or the #PDP in this election is a wasted vote.”
The YPP manifesto, downloadable for free, resolves:
…to put aside our differences and work together within one strong political party to fulfill the yearnings of the people for the restoration of democracy and the establishment of good governance to salvage the Nigerian nation from an impending collapse and international alienation.
Rolling out his action plans, Moghalu states that upon election:
I will set up four offices that will drive my Presidency. They are:
1. Office of National Strategy
2. Office of Risk Management
3. Office of Performance Management
4. Office of Human Capital Development.
Promising to announce all his cabinet members within 48 hours and their portfolios allocated, to make education free in primary and secondary school and heavily subsidize tertiary education, to lead an economic philosophy that will rescue Nigeria from poverty, Moghalu is eager to take Nigeria to the future it deserves.
Like Fela Durotoye of the ANN, Moghalu and the YPP encounter a visible challenge of reaching more Nigerians, even at the grassroot with his message of Nigeria “It is Time!”
Indeed, it is time for Nigeria to move forward, in the right direction but we must choose the leadership to make this possible. Kingsley Moghalu believes he is a credible candidate for the job. He believes it is time to do things differently. First, by voting, and voting differently.
To vote the Young Party (YPP), to vote Kingsley Moghalu: look out for the logo with the map of Nigeria in yellow, red and green with an open door in the middle.
Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #NigeriaDecides2019
Featured image source: Oriental News Nigeria