A Labour Party (LP) stalwart and former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra state in 2021, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, Monday, ruled out possibility of governor Chukwuma Soludo to win the 2025 State gubernatorial poll.
Ozigbo, in a wake-up video calls addressed to his brother and APGA-led government, said he was not impressed because what Soludo was able to achieve within two years was far below average compared to what governor Alex Oti had done within ten months in office at Abia state and what himself would have achieved if he had won the 2021 poll.
He further dared the governor to come clean in the area of road construction and publish the contract sum and average cost per kilometer so they could be benchmark appropriately.
“When it comes to Security, this is the primary role and the most important need. How do we end the kidnappings, killings and destruction of houses and palaces. In recent times, we have witnessed these in Aguata, your own LG, in Orumba, in many parts of Ihiala, from Lilu to Mbosi to Orsumoghu to Isseke, in Amichi, Ukpor, Nnewi etc, In Ogbaru, Onitsha and Awka.
“Where is safe in Anambra? We must tell ourselves the truth. And this is not to lament about the problem. It is also to point to the right direction. We don’t discuss security strategies openly, but we had situation like this in the past and Peter Obi solved it. Go and ask him how he engaged traditional institutions and security agencies to solve this problem. Go to Abia and ask Alex Otti how kidnappings have almost ended there.
“On economy, our young talents are migrating abroad and our businesses are finding home in Enugu, Asaba and Aba. Why? What have you done to term the tide and improve Anambra’s competitiveness? How is poverty rate trending? Solve the power problem, security problem and reduce thuggery and then work on more roads and see magic happen in Anambra.
“So, we will need you to come clean. Publish the contractors, the contract sum and let’s know the average cost per kilometer and let’s benchmark this appropriately. We need to be sure the cost of Soludo and sons is not even higher than using Julius Berger. Some of the roads you brag about had been 60% completed but you sure know how to take glory and swallow the thank you.
“Let me end this by asking that you also realise governance isn’t a family business and one man show. You need critical stakeholders to be part of critical decision making. You cannot know it all no matter how much you think you know. You need to stay humble and learn to listen to other views, including the opposing ones. This is how you can improve on your human relationships, a key ingredient to governing Anambra well,” he added.
