A former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, on Wednesday declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2019.
Moghalu declared his intention at a press conference held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center in Abuja.
The former CBN official said he would not be intimidated by the popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.
He noted that Nigeria deserves a youthful leader with clear vision to move the country to enviable heights.
Moghalu said: “With love for our country and a fierce commitment to a vision of rapid progress for our more than 180 million citizens and following wide-ranging consultations, I offer myself to serve you as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as from May 29, 2019.
“I therefore intend to be a candidate in the 2019 presidential election. I seek the opportunity to offer our country, a visionary, purposeful and competent leadership to build our future.
“Nearly 60 years ago, our founding fathers Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo envisioned a great country that would take its pride of place in the world based on the talents of its citizens and a constitutional federation that would ensure justice, equity, and economic productivity.
“Their vision and hopes have yet to materialize. Military rule, oil booms and busts, and the successive leadership failures of our civilian political class have combined to rob us of what seemed our destiny at independence.
“I am standing here today saying that it is time we shatter the downward spiral to nowhere.
“I am here today, standing with the 110 missing girls of Dapchi and their grieving family, and with the traumatized young women of Chibok, those with us and those still in captivity.”
The former United Nations official, who is yet to pick a political party where he would contest, said Nigerian leaders lacked the economic philosophy to stir the ship of the nation.
“We have over 50 political parties in Nigeria today, so Nigerians should not allow intimidation from any political party.
“I have not announced today the party platform on which I intend to contest for the presidency. My focus for now is the people of Nigeria and not on party platforms that have in the past been mere vehicles for capturing political power,” he added.