22nd December, 2022
Former presidential aspirant, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu has expressed his delight in withdrawing from Nigeria’s partisan politics, adding that he was “bloodied but unbowed”.
The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stated this via a series of tweets on his verified Twitter page.
According to him, he already paid his dues and is now ready to focus on his other professional activities.
He tweeted; “I am happy and have found peace in withdrawing from partisan politics. No apologies. As a citizen, I will always have my preferences and will vote for specific candidates, but there are times and circumstances when one can better contribute to nation-building from a nonpartisan perspective.
“Partisanship is necessarily divisive. I have been in that space before. No longer. I have paid my dues. Besides, I have always had a second (professional) address outside politics. Some professional activities are simply INCONSISTENT, and won’t be credible if mixed with partisan politics.
“Running a policy think tank such as @IGETAfrica (which can bring out policy ideas that can benefit political leaders and candidates) is one such activity. Certain types of business and entrepreneurship as well.
“I understand the passions and goodwill of those who argue on this street that I should formally “declare/campaign for this candidate or the other. They argue so because they believe my views are listened to and may be “influential”.
“But I urge such people to also understand and respect my own personal decisions. They have not, like I have been, presidential candidates (without having a war chest of stolen public funds) or stood in the arena bloodied but unbowed.
“No regrets, but only I know what I have sacrificed, the personal price I have paid.
“Many people cannot do it, especially for someone in my position who really did not need to, when there were so many other more comfortable things one could have done with one’s time.
“But the impact my humble, sacrificial effort made in 2019 and earlier on in this current cycle, is part of what paved the way, and is driving, today’s story.”
“That’s a major contribution. I am satisfied, for the quest for Nigeria’s redemption is a journey, not an event.