Former President and CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Valentine Ozigbo, has voiced deep concerns over what he described as Governor Charles Soludo’s apparent lack of attention to the escalating insecurity in Anambra State.
Ozigbo specifically criticised the governor’s silence on critical security issues, including the recent abduction of the retired Archbishop of the Niger Province, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, which he called alarming.
Speaking during a Townhall Meeting in Lagos, organised to discuss the state of Anambra and the broader South-East region, Ozigbo, who was the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, accused Soludo of exhibiting a leadership style that lacks emotional intelligence, compassion, and receptiveness to alternative perspectives.
Ozigbo linked the state’s growing insecurity to what he described as a leadership deficit in the current administration.
“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,” the Labour Party governorship aspirant declared.
Highlighting the qualities he believes are essential for effective leadership, Ozigbo said, “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.”
According to Ozigbo, Governor Soludo’s perceived unwillingness to engage with others and his lack of compassion have worsened the state’s insecurity.
“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 stated.
He further criticised the governor’s lack of communication on key issues, saying, “He doesn’t even speak about it. You hear that an archbishop has been kidnapped, and there is no comment from the governor.
“Beyond that, the highhandedness; the ‘Akaodo’ syndrome and the paucity of law and order are apparent. The question is: Who in Anambra is happy? Which institution is happy? Which department is happy? Hardly would you find any. So Anambra people are not happy, and this is part of the discussion today. Let’s hear from those in Lagos. Are people happy with how Anambra is? How many of you are going home for Christmas? Are you excited to go home? Are you perturbed? Are you worried? Are you concerned? And that is the conversation.
“The truth is that our people are totally sad; very sad. Anambra people are not satisfied. The level of insecurity is horrendous, and there is not even any hope; there is no sign that something good is going to come out of this administration as far as security is concerned.”
Ozigbo, who recently declared his intention to contest for the governorship on the Labour Party platform, stressed the importance of adopting a leadership approach that is inclusive, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of the people.
“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,” he added.
