By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Mr. Valentine Ozigbo is among the youth worldwide that are driving nations with bright digital new ideas.
Such young leaders have emerged in France and New Zealand.
A lady, Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern, born in July 26, 1980 (age 40), is the prime minister of New Zealand, while Emmanuel Macron, became French president at 39 years. He was born in December 21, 1977.
In Nigeria, we had such persons in Anambra and Enugu state as a governors, Peter Obi and Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, respectively.
Peter Obi single-handedly brought modern development in Anambra State with humility and hardwork at a youthful age.
Today, Anambra is one of the states recording the best results in education.
The state is about witnessing another wonder worker next year if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) eventually gives Mr. Valentine Ozigbo the mandate to be the party’s flagbearer in forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Ozigbo, just like many others vying for the state’s topmost office, is emminently qualified.
He belongs to the generation of world leaders like Macron and Ardern that are making headlines with their achievements.
Ardern, for instance, made sure that the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) did not cause havoc in New Zealand, as the country recorded one of the lowest casualties at the hit of the pandemic.
For those who do not know Ozigbo, he is from Amesi in Aguata, Anambra State. Ozigbo also is the immediate past president and group chief executive officer (CEO) of Transcorp and a member of PDP.
Unlike others gunning for the exalted office, Ozigbo is parading intimidating credentials.
The man, who celebrated his 50th birthday recently, quit a job I considered one of the best in Nigeria to serve Ndi Anambra.
In a video meeting, Ozigbo was passionate about taking Anambra State to the next level of development, having acquired experience in the private sector.
He prides himself as somebody who hungers for a better Nigeria and who hungers for a better place for the black man in the world.
“I am fortunate to have been widely travelled and widely exposed and I have been in conversations around the world where we’re just asking, ‘what is wrong with a black man?’ Is something wrong with us?
“We’ve argued from both sides of the divide, and I am convinced that absolutely nothing is wrong. God didn’t create us unequal. We are not deficient and we are not incapacitated. Whatever we need to improve our circumstances, I believe that we are endowed with those. If nothing else, even more than those we probably seem to feel that they are better placed. And this is even more relevant to what is going on around the world,” he said.
He believes that Anambra State is very crucial in the development of Igbo land.
According to him, “I think Anambra is so crucial to talk about what we can bring as Ndigbo. I think Anambra is pivotal to this change that we’re talking about. And I think that we are so blessed as a people with the intellect, resources, capacity, whatever we want to make of our areas, the South-East.
“Also, I have spoken about what drives me, the culture of excellence, continuous improvements. And part of the reason is that I’ve learnt and I’ve mastered through nature and nurture, the deeper meaning of emotional intelligence. I know that one of the things you could do right in this world is your respect for humanity, for one another. And that comes from appreciating the diversity that we have.
“So when I run a company, for instance, I could pick my best idea from the gateman because it’s not about his circumstances. And in fact, the table could turn, and if not for opportunities that some of us have we could be that gateman. So if not anything else, remember that we are all created in the image and likeness of God and therefore we have one thread that runs across all folks. And I also have the tradition of giving back. I don’t just consider myself to have youthful energy. I’m youthful in everything I do. That means I’m also digital, I’m modern. And so I meet the youth that is coming at their level because both in spirit and body, I am one of them. I also have a deeper understanding of where the world is headed. I’ve been that well exposed.”
On the chances of getting the PDP ticket and emerging as the new governor, Ozigbo was optimistic of achieving the feat.
He said that he had consulted with all the PDP leaders in the state, whom he said had endorsed his candidacy.
“What I’m saying here is that I’m riding on my overwhelming acceptability by these key leaders and I’m willing to show them the respect that they deserve, but I think politics has gone beyond them centrally deciding alone. We need to have a collegial decision.
“And I think today, it’s not in doubt that Peter Obi is a clear leader of PDP in Anambra State. And that leadership that he brings, I am very comfortable. The reason I say this is because not just by being a former governor, I think that being the vice-presidential candidate sets him apart as the number one leader, of course, with the rest of the other people that we have to manage together. So the emphasis is on my being a consensus candidate of all of them.
“But that does not mean, if in the end, we succeed with the majority, we’ll go with the majority.”
On zoning of political office in the state, he said that it would not stop his ambition.
“Zoning is an interesting subject. But the way I always like to approach this question is to put a preface there. And that preface is, I am in this race to win. I’m in this race not to experiment. I’m not in this race because of zoning.
“So with or without zoning, I believe that I have what it takes to lead and to win. So because once you start to talk about zoning, some mindsets begin to change as though this is why you’re running.
“So I need to put this context. Now, zoning or no zoning. You could argue on both sides. We have seen examples of where zoning has done wonders from across the world, and it is what is practised by global institutions and I’d like to give examples like the World Bank and IMF. The idea is always not to overlook competency even in the practice of zoning.”
He pointed out that an Anambra man, Dr Alex Ekwueme, introduced the zoning arrangement in Nigeria’s politics with the floating of the six geopolitical zones, explaining that the policy was for equity and balance. He also disclosed that in Anambra State, it was Peter Obi that started it for good reasons.
“Obi figured out that the Central had been there for 11 years. Ngige and him altogether, three and eight, 11 years. So he saw need to say to Anambra South, ‘Please, we’d like rather move to the North so we can give them a chance to govern Anambra state.’ And this is how Obiano emerged. And I remember in 2017 when the next election was coming close, this issue became topical. You would see all manner of opinion molders coming out to speak. It never stopped other people from other zones from contesting. So the issue is do you want to disenfranchise others? But the point here is that they are just coming out for other reasons, not to win the election. Because of the momentum that zoning goes with, it is almost impossible for anybody to counter,” he said.
He however lamented the pooe leadership at the federal level.
He said that Nigeria was being run in a handout manner that inhibits creativity and ingenuity.
“We’ve seen that we need to do a lot more, especially if we compare with what we used to do in the past before the advent of crude oil. And I think what this COVID-19 has done is to send the right shock to the right quarters. But I don’t think that we have learnt the lessons because what we see is people taking reactionary measures and not looking at the strategic and fundamental factors,” Ozigbo said.
Overall, it looks likely that Ozigbo will succeed Willie Obiano.
His popularity among PDP leaders, his intimidating credentials, youthfulness, youth empowerment schemes and most important coming from Anambra South, where the governorship is zoned favour Ozigbo. Recall that the First Class Accountancy graduate of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has also excelled as a banker, where he won several awards.