Members of 19 states of the coalition of northern Nigeria under the auspices of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Riders Association (NACTMORA), popularly known as “Keke Napep” and “Okada” riders have called on Professor Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, a political economist and lawyer to run for President in 2023 general elections.
Moghalu, who served as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009-2014, contested for the 2019 presidential election under the banner of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday by the Chairman, Coalition of 19 Northern Nigerian States of NACTOMORA, Alhaji Nasiru Umar Ambursa and 9 states chapter chairmen, members of the association unanimously called on Prof. Moghalu to run for President in 2023, pledging their support and endorsement for his candidacy.
“We are endorsing Prof. Moghalu because since he came into Nigerian politics in 2018, he has shown that he has a clear plan for Nigeria. He is passionate to lead the transformation of Nigeria into a more united country with a better economy that can eradicate poverty. Many people are still remembering his candidacy in 2019 and now wish Nigeria can have such a man as its leader.
“Before going into politics, he showed capacity through his track record of national service at the leadership level in the CBN where he worked closely with HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II (formerly Sanusi Lamido Sanusi), Governor of the CBN from 2009-2014 and Emir of Kano from 2014-2020, as Governor Sanusi’s deputy.
“The professor also established an excellent track record in international service at the United Nations for 17 years before he was invited back home to serve Nigeria at the CBN by Sanusi and appointed CBN Deputy Governor by late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
“Prof. Moghalu is not corrupt. He is not tribalistic. He is a man of truth and courage. He has a good heart for the common man. And he has the global pedigree needed for leadership in the 21st century.
“We strongly call on Prof. Moghalu to step forward to lead Nigeria. We plead with all Nigerians, for the sake of our children and our future, to support this patriotic Nigerian. He is the man we believe has the vision, capacity, and competence, to lead Nigeria into a better future.
“After carefully looking at the situation in our country today, the members of our Association in 19 northern states have unanimously decided that, of all the political leaders active in the country today, Professor Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu OON, political economist and lawyer, Special Envoy of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Post-Covid Development Finance for Africa, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009-2014, former Professor at Tufts University, USA, a presidential candidate in 2019, and the Ifekaego Nnewi, is the best potential candidate to be elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” said the association.
NACTOMORA, which is a grassroots trade association with over 10 million members in the 19 northern states expressed deep concern about the terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, poverty, unemployment, ethnic and religious problems that are worsening in the country since the 2019 general election.
The communique read at the press conference was signed by the Chairman, Coalition of 19 Northern Nigerian States of NACTOMORA, Alhaji Nasiru Umar Ambursa and the three state chairmen from each of the three geopolitical zones of North-Central, North-East, and North-West.