The gubernatorial candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 election in Anambra State, Val Ozigbo has attributed his failure to clinch victory at the poll to betrayal by trusted party members.
He also regretted the time he wasted seeking for unity and reconciliation among aggrieved party members, saying such time and energy would have used for aggressive campaign.
Ozigbo who is now a chieftian of Labour Party (LP) stated this in a chat with newsmen in Awka, saying such disappointments would not repeat itself as he had learnt his lessons.
He declared his interest to contest the 2025 election, attributing reasons for his decision to unsatisfactory performance of governor Chukwuma Soludo in his two years in Office.
His words, “Those I contested with in 2021 underated me, describing me as one from the corporate world and into hotel business and washing plates. There was nothing they didn’t say about me.
“Those saying these were heavyweight Senators, House of Representatives, millionaires with all PDP governors behind them. Some bought the party structures and BOT. Yet I won them at the primary.
“If I could defeat such heavyweights then, I don’t see any intimation this time. We’ve sat down to look at our strengths and weaknesses and how to overcome them.
“I’m a strategist. Not just that I’m hardworking and industrious, but I’m backed by God’s grace. I won when I was not known, how much more now, they won’t see our back.
“Things are all aligning to our favour. We only need to be trusted. We were betrayed last time because we saw the signs but ignored them. Going forward, we won’t ignore any sign so as to reduce the betrayal to the minimal.
“We’ve seen the leadership style of the incumbent. Buying over the opposition. That’s why I emphasize on being less transactional. Fear those desperate politicians without price tag. Even if you want to carry them along the journey, don’t give them leadership positions.
“This time, I’ll do my best to identify the right people to work with so that even if there may be mistake, it won’t be fatal.”
