.......SAYS HE IS COMMITTED TO ‘FREEING ANAMBRA FROM THE CHAINS OF BAD GOVERNANCE
Two years ago when I announced me intention to run for the governorship of Anambra, my singular reason was to provide the kind of governance that my people would be proud of. Today, that reason is still clear, present, and urgent.
The Governorship candidate of PDP Valentine Chineto Ozigbo says that the battle to Goverment House Awka is not over yet. He made this assertion today while speaking with newsmen in Awka, Anambra state capital.
He said that "With the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the result of the governorship election held in Anambra State held on Saturday as inconclusive many are wondering what my stance is."
"I am in the race. My party the PDP is still in the race. Election will hold Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9, 2021, in Ihiala Local Government Area. The fate of Anambra is now in their hands. I know they will choose rightly tomorrow. "
He however said that it's necessary to put on record that the developments in this on-going election is a reflection of the dysfunction in Nigeria, which he said was marred by widespread irregularities and violations of Nigeria’s electoral laws.
He went on to commend INEC for its attempt to digitalize the voting process, albeit the slow voting machines, poorly trained INEC ad-hoc staff, and logistical challenges which heavily marred the process.
He bemoaned that hundreds of thousands of Anambrains were prevented from casting their votes in this election because of these technical and operational failures.
"At this critical time in history, we should be expanding the political space to include more people.
"What we experienced on November 6 was the antithesis of democracy. Elections were not held in many polling units. Election materials arrived late in some, and never arrived in others. Collation and returning officers were forced to sign result sheets and in some cases, the result sheets were totally fabricated."
He stressed that it's unfortunate that thousands of voters were disenfranchised by INEC officials who shut down voting before the end of the extended voting deadline.
"The voices of a greater majority of our people were not heard and the consequence is that they did not get the opportunity to choose who would lead them for the next four years."
"Agents of the two ruling parties, at the centre and at the state level, embarked on brazen voter intimidation and vote buying at polling units using state resources and the security agents on duty stood by as electoral crimes were committed in the open."
"The impunity did not begin on Saturday. It takes root from the process in which leaders emerge. The undemocratic processes within the parties in which the flag-bearers are imposed on the party leads to candidates who are unpopular, insecure, and beholden to those who coronated them."
Mr Ozigbo however stressed that another factor that disenfranchised millions and divided Ndi Anambra is the dangerous strain of denominational politics introduced by unqualified politicians desperate to power.
"We came from one God and we are all His children. We must be careful that divisive issues are not allowed to override competency in this race."
"Ndi Anambra must be weary of those who resort to segregation based on which church we belong. They do not mean well. Seeds of division, once sown are difficult to uproot. For us to make progress as a people, recognising our oneness and unifying our people for a common purpose is crucial. We must reject mediocrity and in its place, entrench merit and the pursuit of excellence as a culture."
He continued by stating that Anambra, and indeed Nigeria will never be free, will never shine brightly, if we do not reject the old dysfunctional ways of doing things.
"We must strive to a higher standard for every one of us – in politics, business, education, governance – and we must adopt a culture of continuous improvement. This is the only way we will pull ourselves out from the darkness into the light."
"I am a child of Grace. Everything that I am, all that I have achieved, has been by the grace of God. I am deeply grateful to God Almighty for bringing me to this day. We are in a good position."
Ozigbo however thanked all the brave men and women who caught the Ka Anambra Chawapu vision when they started.
"You lit the candle that became a torch that attracted the youth, men and women that formed our movement. I am eternally grateful for the many sacrifices you made to bring us to this day. "
He was also grateful to all the leaders and members of his great party, the Peoples Democratic Party for their support and encouragement. The new PDP he said has proven to be a model of internal democracy, conducting one of the freest and most transparent primaries in recent Nigerian party history.
He as well thanked his friends, family and thousands of supporters who donated their hard-earned money, time and talents to support to his campaign. And prayed that God replenish them all a thousand fold.
He went on to thank Ndi Anambra for the love shown to him, his family, and team as they toured the state, sharing their Ka Anambra Chawapu message.
Conclusively he said he was pulled by the vision of a society that works for all of us, where the strong come together to lift up the weak among us, where we all join hands as one family to protect the future of our children.
The vision can never die because it is divine. Aka Chukwu Di Ya.
The election is not over. We move forward. Ka Anambra Chawapu!