Why Ozigbo is popular with Anambra youth

For the generation of Nigerians born in the 1990s and 2000s, we look to history books for primarily icons of our country’s political leadership. We hear from our teachers, parents and elders the stories of how past leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara, Herbert Macaulay, Eyo Ita, Alvan Ikoku, Egbert Udo Udoma, Obafemi Awolowo, Margaret Expo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Chuka Okadigbo, Alex Ekwueme, and several others demonstrated strength, purpose, and vision.

Of course, there have been flashes of brilliance from time to time – the cases of former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Peter Obi, who ruled Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, come to mind.

Then Anambra 2021 happened and a young man from Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area, Valentine Ozigbo, whose exploits in the business world that we had heard of, entered the political space by launching his candidacy for the governorship of Anambra.

Anambra governorate is one of the most demanding political positions to run for in Nigeria; It is commonly said that it is more difficult to run for governor of our beloved state than to do a play for Aso Rock. To some extent, we agree with this premise.

So when Ozigbo, also known by his initials, VCO, declared his intention to run for governor of Anambra in 2019, many of us thought he had no chance. We believed the odds were against him. He came from the business world; he had never run for office before. Veteran politicians who have played the field for years like Senator Andy Uba, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, Professor Charles Soludo, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Hon Chris Azubogu, and money bags like Dr. Godwin Maduka, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo , Godwin Ezeemo, Chief Linus Ukachukwu through his brother, Nicholas Ukachukwu, and Chris Uba, through his brother, Ugochukwu Uba had declared an interest in the office.

When Ozigbo announced that he was running under the platform of our party, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), we thought he had chosen the steepest hill to climb among all political parties. The likes of Ekwunife, Azubogu, Maduka, Okonkwo, Ezeemo, Uba, Ukachukwu were looking for the same ticket. In some cases, these politicians are believed to “own the party structures.”

For these reasons, added to the fact that the VCO was only known to high society at the time, we thought it had a near zero chance of winning the coveted PDP gubernatorial bid, which is the first hurdle it had to cross.

What we didn’t know at the time was that Valentine Ozigbo is one of the brightest, most gifted and talented leaders in Nigeria. By the time he was in his early 40s, he had already established his position as a global CEO as the CEO / CEO of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, winning several international awards. Those who had worked with him during his historic corporate career knew his worth, and he had their full support in taking this step by leaving his prestigious job as Group Chairman and CEO of Transcorp Plc and making a move for the role. Governor of our beloved state.

Man, it proved its quality! It wasn’t long before Anambra state’s so-called political heavyweights began to view Val Ozigbo as their most significant threat to get the PDP’s governor’s fine.

In less than a year, VCO had warmed her hearts in virtually every demographic that mattered in Anambra politics. PPD leaders at all levels began whispering that they preferred Val as the party’s standard-bearer, women’s groups, PPD delegates, voters of all ages, even his fellow aspirants preferred that Ozigbo emerge as the party’s standard-bearer. .

Valentine Ozigbo made history when he won the PDP ticket in the most free, fair and transparent primary ever held in the PDP in June 2021. He made history again when he came second in the main elections in November, behind Professor Soludo of the ruling Grand Alliance of All Progressives (APGA), who was taking his fourth chance at the governorship.

Last week, a coalition of PDP youth groups, to which we both belong, declared Valentine Ozigbo the Most Valuable Player of Anambra 2021. This is a well deserved title. We wish to explain why we believe that he is the real winner of the election.

VCO came to the field with a message of hope and inspiration and articulated its vision for Anambra, Ala Igbo and Nigeria in a way we have never seen a politician do in our lives. It awakened the conscience of our people and raised them to a new mindset, and it also inspired a new generation of young people to politics.

Ozigbo implemented a never-before-seen use of modern election campaign media, technology and methods to run the best campaign we have ever seen. Before now, we only saw American politicians have a voice and a message. We, the youth and everyone else, are inspired by his brilliance, articulation, content, message, and personality.

At the PPD, Ozigbo demystified what we thought were political heavyweights by openly defeating them in the primaries. So what did they do? They worked hard to sabotage their chances in the November 6 elections. In a future article, we will articulate the betrayals that cost our party the victory we had obtained at the grassroots. Today is a celebration of the man we will always consider our leader.

The most noteworthy thing is how you ran your campaigns. He focused on his message for Anambra. Faced with hatred, VCO responded with a message of love. When he was attacked, he responded with a new energy of telling his story. In the face of terror, he offered a message of freedom and hope. In fact, Val Ozigbo is the inspiring leader of the next generation that we should be proud of.

Ozigbo’s Ka Anambra Chawapu message is universal. It is a message to please everyone and promises a better future. It continues to resonate in the hearts of all Ndi Anambra, especially the young, even after the elections. His motto Aka Chukwu Di Ya tops it all and speaks of his essence. Val Ozigbo is a son of grace.

The most endearing quality that Ozigbo has, from our point of view as young people, is his humility and love for humanity. Many politicians arrive and their disposition towards the youth is to use us and get rid of us. They only talk about us and seek to use us only as thugs and fighters on social media. VCO was different. He cared about us. He spoke to us as younger brothers and sisters. He unconditionally supported our programs and created multiple spaces for us.

The youth of Anambra see in VCO the champion we have always longed for, and we are grateful to him for taking that bold step in politics. Anambra will certainly never be the same again because we experience the remarkable brilliance of Valentine Ozigbo.

Chris Mmaju is the PDP Student Federation Coordinator, Anambra Chapter. He holds a degree in Political Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Olaedo Ezeanyim graduated in Education Policy and Management from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She is an advocate for girls’ education and gender rights and founded the Gift-a-Pad Initiative that reaches high school girls with mental health education and resources.