Kehinde Fajobi
Former President and CEO of Transcorp, Valentine Ozigbo, has criticised Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo for allegedly failing to address the rising insecurity in the state.
Ozigbo expressed his concerns during a town hall meeting in Lagos, where he discussed challenges facing Anambra and the South-East region.
He specifically cited the recent kidnapping of retired Archbishop of the Niger Province, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, as an example of the administration’s lack of action.
Ozigbo, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2021 Anambra governorship election and is now seeking the position under the Labour Party (LP), accused Soludo of failing to show leadership qualities such as emotional intelligence, humility, and compassion.
“I feel that one of the fundamental things about leadership is what I call the gift or skill of emotional intelligence, and that is what I am bringing to the table,” Ozigbo stated.
He added, “Apart from being competent and knowing what to do; acknowledging that you don’t know it all, humbling yourself to listen to others, respecting and showing love and compassion to one another, and knowing your environment are also very important in leadership. And that is what I think is missing in the leadership of Anambra State currently.”
Ozigbo accused Soludo of highhandedness and ignoring critical issues, saying: “The gentleman there today doesn’t listen to anybody. He thinks he knows it all, and it is very telling of his acts.
“There is no compassion; there is nothing to show that this man is worried about the situation in the state.”
He further questioned Soludo’s silence on security matters, including the kidnapping of Archbishop Okpala.
“You hear that an archbishop has been kidnapped, and there is no comment from the governor,” he lamented.
Ozigbo also criticised the general state of governance under Soludo, describing it as a “paucity of law and order” and adding that many Anambra residents are disillusioned.
“Who in Anambra is happy? Which institution is happy? Which department is happy? Hardly would you find any. Anambra people are not happy,” he said.
He urged the need for a more inclusive and responsive leadership style, saying, “You have got to be a different kind of person. You have got to be someone who understands that leadership is not just about what you can do, but who you are.”
Ozigbo’s remarks come as he campaigns for the governorship position, promising to prioritise security and bring a more compassionate and inclusive approach to governance.