The Peoples Democratic Party PDP standard bearer in the November 6 Anambra State governorship elections, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo says nobody imposed his deputy on him. He made the statement during an interactive session with media practitioners in Awka, the State capital.
The PDP flag bearer made it clear while debunking the rumour making rounds that his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo was imposed on him by an unnamed godfather.
Godfather
“I do not have any godfather, I’m an independent-minded person who does not believe in having a godfather. Not even Mr. Peter Obi, Tony Elumelu or any other individual as people alleged is my godfather”, he reiterated.
The former Transcorp boss said the leadership of the PDP can make suggestions to him about issues but the suggestion, he said, must be assessed on its merit.
Basis for selection
“I decided to run along with Mrs Azuka Enemo because of her huge integrity and large support base. Nobody imposed her on me. The fact that I ran an election primary for two years in the state should have given me an idea of who my deputy would be though I didn’t decide on that even after the primary.
The two issues I hinged my vision on are the youths and women. So it’s natural for me to pick a woman as my deputy”, he said.
He further stated that his deputy not only must be a woman but must come from the north and must have political clout to deliver that area during election.
“The truth is that PDP only will not do the magic, we can take advantage of Mrs Enemo’s pull to catch the North irrespective of her former political leanings. I am not one of the people who go to politicians to make promises, by now I would have wished Anambra away.
Infact, I coincidentally boarded the same flight with Mr. Peter Obi and I told him how I would engage the leadership of Anglican Communion to get my deputy.
I turned down the first list of the people sent to me not because the individuals are not good but they must meet the criteria set down”, he said.
Ozigbo said he has to be thorough about the choice of his running mate because his deputy must be someone he has full confidence in.
Aggrieved party members
Ozigbo said “if any of the governorship aspirants on the platform of PDP is leaving the party, it is not for lack of attention or lack of consultation but the person has made up his mind to leave.
After the primary election, I paid homage to all of them including Chief Chris Uba who pledged before the primaries that he will support any candidate that emerged from the South”.
He said that he knew before the party primary that the problem of PDP in Anambra state was that after similar exercises in the past, losers resort to anti-party activities.
“That was why after I was declared winner of the primary, I took time to pay homage to my co-aspirants, as well as chieftains of the party”, he added.
That notwithstanding, Ozigbo noted the party still recorded about 20 court cases ranging from those who claimed that some votes were missing to those who claim that the election was not properly conducted.
Nneka Ukachukwu
