Former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, and a 2023 presidential candidate under the auspices of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), yesterday, lamented the threat posed by Nigerian youths as a consequence of bad governance.
In a statement made available to Punch yesterday during the #EndSARS memorial protest, the former CBN deputy governor stated that instead of the youth to live up to their billing as the most productive cornerstone of Nigeria, they have turned to social vices against the government because of the latter’s failure.
According to him, “Nigeria’s young men and women face many fundamental challenges. The strength of their numbers (nearly 70 per cent of our population) is supposed to be the country’s most productive asset; but the failure of governance has turned this into a threat, and the #EndSARS movement has witnessed efforts to silence the voices of our young people, physically and on social media including the ‘Twitter ban’.
“A year ago, Nigerian youth organized themselves in the peaceful #EndSARS protests to demand freedom from police brutality. Quite sadly, the bravery of the young compatriots was met with even more brutality. Like millions of fellow citizens, and indeed the youth, today, I especially remember those who paid the ultimate price for freedom during the protest. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten or in vain.”
Enumerating his five-point agenda if he wins the presidential election, the seasoned technocrat said, “The council will work to bring into reality the promises of the National Youth Policy. As part of its responsibilities, the council will memorialize the 2020 #EndSARS protest and restore civic engagement and the right to protest as provided for in the Nigerian Constitution.”
It remains to be seen if Moghalu will win the election given the power divide among the two big parties in the Nigeria political scene, to wit, the ruling APC and, the major opposition, the PDP. Nigeria actually needs people like Moghalu who visibly have what it takes to redirect the course of the Nigerian ship.
But, can the structures under which he contests give him that leverage to compete favourably? Would he need to join the band wagon and swap allegiance? If he does, would he not be schemed out in the course of the primaries? How objective is his followership?
Moghalu actually has a lot going in his favour as a candidate in an unbiased society but he equally has a lot contending against him in a democracy that is not totally pluralistic.
Azuka Edokobi is a Writer , a Farmer, a Supply Chain Expert and an Entrepreneur
