Why is Dr. Valentine Ozigbo’s Defection causing Ripples?
By Tai Emeka Obasi
An extreme view defines madness as doing same thing over and over again while expecting different results. I think that aptly sums up Nigerian politics. Politics, especially as practised in Nigeria, remains a vocation without any form of professionalism, otherwise an all-comers affair. I look around and I see players still displaying same old art of dribbling that continued failing for over two decades past.
Anambra State has its unique political manner of practice and its media, specifically social media, even more so. These days, I quietly read many posts/comments and observe that nothing has changed. Insults of all kinds remain the thrust while substantive debates continue to elude a hemisphere that should truly set the pace.
I see countless write-ups lampooning Dr. Valentine Ozigbo, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Anambra State election of 2021 for decamping from Labour Party, LP to All Progressives Congress, APC and I ask, what sin did Ozigbo commit? It is the commonest thing in Nigerian politics – DECAMPING.
There is hardly any politician worth his/her salt in Nigeria that has not decamped one time or the other. Why is Ozigbo’s generating ripples? Perhaps Ozigbo did not help matters by referring to injustice and what have you for his reason/s for decamping. That, to me, was wrong choice of words. Most of us claim to follow HE Peter Obi but never learn his ways.
The Labour Party presidential candidate in the last election left All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But did he ever say anything bad about the parties he was leaving? NEVER!
Let’s face it – PO is the only Nigerian politician that brought something significantly new and evidently refreshing to Nigerian politics since the Fourth Republic. He has always faced issues. Despite all levels of extreme provocation, nobody has succeeded in shifting him from that lane. That was why he won in all zones of the country. He did something refreshingly different and the people embraced a welcome change.
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This great man has many followers. Question is – why are his followers not learning his ways? Tigbuo, zogbuo everywhere! Even if Ozigbo himself started on the wrong premise while stating his reason for decamping, PO’s followers should have emulated their great leader – wish Ozigbo well and push on for LP to produce a credible candidate that ndi Anambra will identify with. No permanent friend, no permanent enemy, is still the ideal approach to political differences. Ozigbo would definitely decamp again and an ‘enemy’ in 2025 could be a ‘friend’ in 2027.
On my part, I wish my friend, Dr. Val Ozigbo luck in his quest to become next Anambra State governor. I will equally advise him that his path will be easier if he does not involve in any campaign of calumny against his former ally. If it is the wish of God, he will certainly arrive at his destination.
Personally, whoever becomes governor of my dear state in 2025 does not matter to me, provided he is from Anambra South and that the election is free-and-fair. If Governor Charles Soludo does enough to get endorsement from ndi Anambra for second term, I congratulate him. If it ends up a new governor from any party, I equally congratulate him.
The only election I am particular about is Nigeria 2027. That will certainly be PO’s time, by His special grace.
