Former Central Bank Deputy Governor and 2019 presidential candidate, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, has broken his silence on his departure from the Nigerian political arena, describing his return to international professional life as a transformative and necessary move for his personal well-being.
In a candid statement shared recently, Moghalu addressed the persistent “Nigeria needs you” narrative, offering a sobering look at the “cash-and-carry” nature of the country’s political system and shifting the burden of nation-building back to the citizenry.
The Toll of the “System”
Moghalu, who famously left a prestigious faculty position at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 2018 to join the presidential race, revealed that his second attempt in 2023 was thwarted by internal sabotage.
He cited betrayal by what he termed “self-serving, cash-and-carry political entrepreneurs” within the alternative political platforms he had hoped would provide a cleaner path to governance.
“I decided it wasn’t worth the bother for someone who does not need the Nigerian ‘system’ to feed, and whose contributions are demanded and appreciated well elsewhere,” Moghalu stated. “I ended my brief foray into politics and returned to international professional life. Best decision I ever made.”
Key Highlights from the Statement
- Personal Sacrifice: Moghalu noted that his political ambitions came at a high cost to his health, family time, and personal resources earned from “honest labor.”
- Current Status: He describes his life now as “quiet, happy, and fulfilling,” though he continues to provide non-partisan commentary on economic and public policy.
- A Warning: He cautioned that without radical change, Nigeria risks sliding further into a state of dysfunction comparable to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“It Needs You Too”: A Call to Citizen Action
Perhaps the most striking part of Moghalu’s reflection was his pivot from “the Messiah complex” to collective responsibility. He challenged the idea that a single individual can rescue the nation while the populace remains passive.
| The Old Narrative | Moghalu’s New Reality |
| “Nigeria needs you [Moghalu] to save us.” | “It needs you too, and ALL of us.” |
| Reliance on “Alternative Platforms.” | Recognition of “cash-and-carry” entrepreneurs. |
| Sacrificing family and health for the state. | Prioritizing well-being and honest international labor. |
He argued that governance remains absent because Nigerians have “consciously disempowered themselves” using poverty as an excuse, rather than using their numbers—220 million people—to demand accountability from greedy politicians and “magic-count” vote systems.
The Final Verdict
While Moghalu remains a lover of his country, his days on the ballot appear to be firmly in the rearview mirror. His message to those still calling for his return is clear: the power to change the trajectory of the country lies not in a savior, but in the millions of citizens who must recognize their own strength.
