With the endorsements from his former boss and former Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, the Ooni of Ife , Adeyeye Enitan Oguwusi and world renowned Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka all in 2019 when he first declared interest to run for the highest office in the country, Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu may have taken off on a good footing with regards to his political journey, although he would later lose the election to the incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari in the same year.
Adjudged perhaps as inexperienced in partisan politics having not held any political office is his life, the former United Nations official regardless, enjoys a favourable sentiment from the younger generation in Nigeria who believe in his ability to tackle the economic challenges in the country especially with his wealth of experience from the banking sector, particularly from the Central Bank of Nigeria where he served as Deputy Governor from 2009 to 2014.
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His “BIG” agenda, Build Innovate and Grow may also resonates quite well with the younger generation who believe the plan represents a break away from the usual narrative from the political leadership in the country.
“He is intelligent enough” says Mr. Emeka Ezeala a former councilor under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state, under the former Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Asked about the capacity of Moghalu to lead the country, the former councilor said” I have listened to him , he sounds very knowledgeable in economics and finance, I have watched his interviews and debates. So I am very convinced that he will make a fine president”.
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Less than two years after he resigned his membership of the Young Progressives Party, (YPP) in October 2019, the former Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), on the 1st of June 2021, declared his interest to again contest for the presidential seat in 2023, the first aspirant to officially declare for the seat.
Coming from the Igbo extraction that has over the years clamoured for a chance to test power, it does appear there is no better time for Moghalu who is obviously armed with enormous experience in economy, law, international relations and academia, etc to declare his ambition.
However, Mr Ezeala believes Moghalu has little or no chance to clinch the seat of the presidency in 2023″ Considering the way our electoral system is, I doubt in all honesty if he can win the election. Kingsley can’t win the election considering that fact there are only two popularly known national political parties in Nigeria being the APC and the PDP. Kingsley is not a member of any of the political parties”, he opined.
A political analyst, Mr Chinedu Ononiwu when asked about the chances of Moghalu in 2023 has this to say.
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“Kingsley Moghalu hasn’t really positioned himself to be president so I think it’s going to be another failed attempt in 2023. Kingsley Moghalu is qualified, he has served the public creditably , professionally he has risen to the peak but as a politician he doesn’t have that charisma , he doesn’t have that political clout , he doesn’t have that popularity to win elections especially in a setting like Nigeria”.
“Anywhere in the world politics is a game of number, consensus and popularity. These three variables are not in favour of Moghalu as it stands now”.
Perhaps, having established himself as one with vast international reputation by serving in various capacities including in the United Nations, World Health Organisation, as well as a professor at Tufts University in the United States, the Ifekaego of Nnewi also has some traceable achievements that place him in the realm of a “Nationalist”.
While at the CBN, Moghalu championed the introduction of Islamic banking in Nigerian despite wide criticisms and allegations of a plot to ” Islamize” Nigeria. The 58 year old Political Economist insisted that the move was purely aimed at expanding financial inclusion. In a recent interview, the former CBN deputy Governor in charge of Financial and Strategy explained ” the reason people become very upset was because of the distrust that has been built into the polity. Everybody felt this was an Islamization agenda. “Today tell me, how many Nigerians have 
Muslims because of Islamic banking?”
This very action of Moghalu presents him a unifier.
What many do not know is that Moghalu has a connection to the Southwest region by virtue of being the godson of Fummi Anikulapo Kuti, who gave him the name Ayodele. Fummi was a friend to Vidah Moghalu a former diplomat and the father of Kingsley Moghalu. For those who place ethnicity as a yardstick for qualification to run for elective offices in Nigeria, that could count for something.
By all standards, Moghalu is eminently qualified to be the leader of the largest black nation in the world and also being an Igbo man from Anambra state, public sentiment favours him on that quest.
However, there seems to be as yet, no consensus by the Igbos- both leaders and followers on who to push for the most revered position in the country. This perhaps poses a greater challenge for the former UN envoy’s ambition.
Mr Ononiwu also believes that the type of “politics played by the Igbos” could also work against the chances of Moghalu in the 2023 contest.
In his words” the Igbos as a political group in Nigeria seem to lack coherence and unity needed to win elections and that’s the first area where we continue to get it wrong”
“Now, how many Igbos have adopted Kingsley Moghalu as their consensus candidate as excellent as he is, career wise? So its going to be difficult”.
It appears Moghalu has a lot of work to do at the home front if his ambition must be realized. The question of his qualification to become and his capacity to do well as a president has long been answered in the affirmative. Arguably, what separates Moghalu from realizing his set goal , apart from the points raised by Mr Ononiwu, is the platform on which he can pursue his dreams.
“Mr Ezeala again believes Moghalu may win the 2023 presidential poll if” he manages to clinch the tickets of one of the two major parties in Nigeria which is impossible”.
With evehing said, two factors stand out as determiner for Moghalu’s ambition, the unity of the Igbos and the platform on which to pursue his ambition. Until these two issues are resolved, the dream of Moghalu to win the 2023 elections remains what it is – an ambition.
