Following the recent assessment of Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo as under-performing by former PDP candidate during the 2021 Governorship Election in Anambra, Mr Val Ozigbo, the camp of the governor has hit back, accusing Ozigbo of making unfounded criticisms reflective of his own political opportunism and desperation for relevance.
Ozigbo, who is now a chieftain of the Labour Party, had over the weekend, during a meeting with journalists in Awka, accused the governor of failing to meet the demands of Anambra people in the past two years, citing high-handedness and lack of emotional intelligence as short-comings of the governor.
He believed that had he been given the opportunity at the state’s saddle, he would have done in two years better than Soludo did.
But in a statement on Tuesday made available to newsmen, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Christian Aburime said although Anambra as an A-state attracts all manner of suitors as would-be governors, the state deserves the finest of minds as leaders, “and not pretenders and desperadoes masquerading as change agents.”
Describing Ozigbo’s claims as not only baseless but also a betrayal of his own political opportunism rather than a genuine concern for the welfare of Anambra State, Aburime said Ozigbo’s assertion that Soludo’s performance is below average is mischievously misleading as well as devoid of any substantive evidence.
He said it is important to question the credibility of such a judgment, “coming from someone who has been flitting between political parties like a migratory bird.”
Aburime said; “Ozigbo’s track record of political promiscuity hardly qualifies him as a reliable assessor of governance. His political allegiance seems to shift with the wind, driven more by personal ambition than any serious commitment to making a difference.
“Besides, Ozigbo’s sudden epiphany about the importance of zoning reeks of political expediency rather than genuine concern for equity and fairness.
“His newfound zeal for the zoning arrangement conveniently coincides with his gubernatorial aspirations.
“It is evident that Ozigbo is merely using the zoning card as a ploy to garner political support, rather than genuinely advocating for the interests of the people of Anambra.
“Ozigbo’s promise to serve only one term, cloaked in the guise of honouring a supposed zoning agreement, is nothing short of a political gimmick.
“How can we trust someone whose political loyalty is as fickle as the weather to honour such a commitment?”
Aburime further noted that Ozigbo’s assertion that he is not impressed with Governor Soludo’s performance speaks volumes about his gross ignorance and disconnect from the realities on the ground in Anambra State.
According to him, Governor Soludo, within just two years in office, has demonstrated visionary leadership and dogged commitment to the development of the state by doing so much more without borrowing a dime, contrary to the cases of some other state governors whose performances are tied to endless borrowing.
“From 450 kilometers of road infrastructure construction running across all the LGAs of the state to the modernization of healthcare, infusion of new medical professionals, introduction of school fees abolition policy and massive hiring of teachers in education, to retooling and fortifying the security architecture, and visible reforms in the justice system, public service, energy, transportation, urban renewal, agriculture, environment, industry, investment, ICT, youth empowerment, and so much more, Soludo’s administration has made remarkable strides in transforming the landscape of Anambra.
“Was Ozigbo aware that under Governor Soludo, Anambra State became one of the top seven states in Nigeria and the first in the South East for Ease of Doing Business?
“Was he aware that Anambra last year ranked among top 5 states for fiscal sustainability?
“And is he aware that Anambra under Governor Soludo has been rated topmost as the state with the lowest out-of-school children percentage across all states in Nigeria?
“In Governor Soludo, Anambra State has found a leader of great vision and corresponding action since he was popularly elected in 2022.
“Fully prepared and well-equipped for governance, he came with a vision to transform Anambra State into a livable, prosperous, modern homeland.
“Today, two years into his government, he has kept faith with that social contract with Ndi Anambra, all anchored on clear-cut five policy pillars: security, law and order, infrastructure and economic transformation, human capital development and social agenda, governance and value system, and the environment.
“Only Ndi Anambra on the ground can score the governor on his performance and hand him a second term that he so richly deserves,” the governor’s press secretary concluded.
