Moghalu calls Buhari an 'emperor', vows to announce cabinet in 48 hours if elected President

The presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of governing Nigeria just like an emperor would rule a kingdom without accountability.

While speaking during an interview with Pulse on Monday, November 19, 2018, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the president's aloof leadership style has thrown other arms of government into chaos and negatively affected the nation's fortunes.

He said, "Now, you have a president who does not engage anybody, he's aloof, he doesn't have discussions with the National Assembly, nothing. He's an emperor. And that's why even though his party is supposed to be in the majority in the National Assembly, nothing is happening - gridlock, commotion, fights everywhere, defections, jumpology; they jump from APC to PDP back to PDP and back to APC. Did they consult the Nigerians that elected them? No.

"The politicians of this country are a disappointing lot and unless the people of Nigeria rise up against them, we'll never be free."

The presidential candidate also vowed that he would announce a cabinet after 48 hours of being sworn in as president if he wins at the polls next year. President Buhari didn't announce a cabinet for over four months after he was inaugurated in 2015.

Moghalu said, "As president of Nigeria, I'll nominate my cabinet within 48 hours of being sworn in. Not only will I nominate my cabinet in 48 hours, I'll be the first president since 1999 to nominate his cabinet with portfolios attached to them.

"You see the importance of this; because if you're assessing somebody in the National Assembly for a ministerial appointment, what are you assessing him against if you don't know what portfolio he'll hold. We'll hit the ground running, no question about it."

[No available link text]

2019 presidential election

The 2019 presidential election, scheduled for February 16, 2019, is billed to be closely-fought between President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Alongside Moghalu in the chasing pack is Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).

Others are Tope Fasua of the Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP), Adesina Fagbenro-Byron of the Kowa Party (KP), Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP), Hamza Al-Mustapha of the People's Party of Nigeria (PPN), Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and many more.