I have just called Professor Chukwuma Soludo and congratulated him on being declared the winner of the Anambra State governorship elections, 2021. I wished him well and prayed for his success.
Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate all the
men and women who contested our dear state's governorship this year. You all
have shown a determination to see that Anambra is better. It was an honour to
run this race with you.
Two years ago, I decided to go into active partisan
politics with a number of objectives in mind.
First, to use Anambra to set an example of excellence in
governance. The second was to unify Anambra and Ala Igbo around a shared vision
of greatness. The third was to inspire more professionals to go into politics.
I believe that attainment of these would go a long way in changing the story of
black men and women in this world for the better.
Pulled by the vision of a better and brighter Anambra, we
set out on the quest for governorship, resolute on taking revolutionary steps
to address the decay and decline in security, infrastructure, education,
healthcare, the environment, and all other social systems meant to serve the
people.
As laid out in our Ka Anambra Chawapu Manifesto, we
planned to transform Anambra into the most competitive sub-national economy in
Nigeria by opening up public, social, and commercial spaces leveraging on the
strength of our youth and women. Ultimately, to make Anambra the pride of
Nigeria.
Given where we started and where we are today, we
consider ourselves winners. Our Ka Anambra Chawapu message has permeated the
consciousness of Ndi Anambra, and the nation at large. It is the strongest
message that has come out of Anambra 2021, and it continues to beat in the
hearts of Ndi Igbo.
On unifying Ala Igbo, I believe that every Igbo person
now understands that they have a voice in me because I will forever speak in
the interest of the Igbo Nation and the rest of the marginalised and forgotten
in Nigeria.
During this journey, especially in the last months, I
have met many professionals who have been inspired into politics by our message
and asked me how I got to this level in my first attempt. I urge them to keep
the faith. Don't ever let the candle that has been lit in you dim. Our country
needs your active participation in her affairs.
We documented our grand vision for a brighter and better
Anambra and presented it to our people with the energy to implement it. Though
we may not have the opportunity in the immediate to get it started, we will be
holding the government in power accountable to ensure that the welfare of the
people is foremost in their actions at all times.
I acknowledge that we could not have done this alone. I
am a child of Grace. I thank the Almighty God who chose me for this mission for
His abundant mercies and love.
I thank all the courageous men and women who first
believed in me, many of them without knowing me well. You are the heroes of our
Ka Anambra Chawapu Movement. I also thank everyone who believed, even without
meeting me, who heard our message and came out in full support.
I am grateful to every single person who joined our
movement and contributed in one way or the other. The thousands who showed us
so much love, from youths and women in the grassroot, to those in the diaspora,
to the Non Indigenes, various church groups across all denominations, market
women, civil servants, artisans, and many more. Thank you for your prayers,
your material, financial, and intellectual contributions. May the Lord reward
you abundantly.
I thank the leaders and pillars of our great party, the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the national (especially the PDP Governors),
state and ward levels who stood by us and worked tirelessly to win the mandate
of Ndi Anambra. I appreciate your amazing support and friendship.
Most importantly, I thank the entire Ndi Anambra - home
and abroad. The openness, love, and enthusiasm with which you received us,
especially as we campaigned across the state, is one that my wife, my running
mate and I will cherish forever.
This election was fraught with a lot of short-comings on
the part of various government institutions. The security agencies failed to
provide a peaceful environment for campaigns to hold. On election day, they
were absent from many polling centres leading to elections not holding or held
in situations that allowed for chaos and fraud.
The national electoral commission presented untrained and
poorly trained staff who could not operate the voting machines in many places.
They failed woefully in providing logistical support for their staff and so
elections started very late in many places and did not hold in many others.
The use of government funds and resources to corrupt,
coerce, and intimidate voters, PDP party agents, and electoral officials was a
major factor in determining the outcome of this election.
All of these led to the disenfranchisement of the greater
percentage of voters and staining the course of democracy. I will be dedicating
time to champion the positive change we need to ensure that future elections
are truly free and fair and that the will of the electorate prevails.
Denominational politics was also a factor. We need to do
a lot more to ensure that competence is never sacrificed on this altar, and
that democracy is practiced in line with its truest tenets.
In all, I am more determined to working for a better
future for our children by remaining in active politics and rebuilding our
party to be more united and more robust for those who come after us. Ka Anambra
Chawapu.
May God bless you all and bless Anambra State.
Thank you.
Valentine Ozigbo
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
Anambra 2021
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