President of the Osisioma Foundation, Dr Chike Obidigbo, has said that issues of security, job creation, and environmental sustainability should rank as priority concerns of Southeast governors.
He noted that youth economic empowerment and women’s inclusion are ready strategies to reshape the economy and politics of the geopolitical zone, stressing that the socio-economic situation of Southeast Asia requires serious attention from all stakeholders.
Obidigbo stated this during the weekend when a frontline governorship hopeful, Mr Valentine
Ozigbo led an entourage to confer with the Osisioma Foundation at the Peace Lodge, country home of Dr. Obidigbo in Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He explained that the Osisioma Foundation was established to “engineer economic renaissance and encourage private sector operators and political leadership to contribute in shaping an egalitarian political economy.
“As a socio-political group, Osisioma Foundation is concerned about creating the needed massive employment opportunities and empowering women. We are devoted to eradicating the scourge of social, economic, and political quagmires that have continued to dehumanise the mass of citizens of the Igbo nation so as to guarantee their welfare.”
Obidigbo informed Ozigbo and his entourage that the Osisioma Foundation will always lend its support to any government that shows the sincerity of purpose in tackling insecurity and creating an enabling environment for business growth and environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the occasion, Ozigbo, who is a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), informed the leaders and members of Osisioma Foundation present, including former Secretary to Anambra State Government, Ichie Okwuchukwu Ezeaku; Director General of Osisioma Foundation, Ralph Nwike, Comr Tony Edochie; Chief Mrs Pat Ugochukwu; and former Minority Leader of Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr. Ben Obidigbo, of his intention to contest the 2025 governorship poll in the state.
Ozigbo, who was erstwhile Chief Executive Officer of NICON Hilton, said he was prepared to take his message of ’Ka Anambra Chawapu’ message to all the nooks and crannies of the state, remarking that Anambra people should be encouraged to support whoever they deem as a better candidate as governor.
He regretted that unlike in 2017, when some stakeholders said Anambra State was not broken, “with the state’s current rating as the worst in security in the South East, only the right person could steer the ship of the state to the right course with support from well-meaning people.”
While declaring his commitment and capacity to turn around the state’s fortunes for good with his experience in the financial and business sectors, Ozigbo said he has all it takes to be the next governor of Anambra State next year and make Ndi Anambra proud.
He stated that “as a child of grace who came from a humble and disciplined background,” his involvement in Anambra politics was driven by his passion to redeem the state and restore it to its former glory.
“The development of Anambra needs a mix of multi-sector approaches, cluster approaches, and superb partnerships to achieve good governance in order to fully drive vital sectors like education, health, poverty eradication, and security.
“These are the basic gears needed to be engaged to put Anambra on the map, but regretfully, the state has become unlivable due to its high crime rate and is fast becoming the worst in the entire South East.”
While extolling the excellent developmental blueprint of the Osisioma Foundation, the governorship hopeful assured the foundation’s president, Dr. Obidigbo, that he would make him and Ndi Anambra proud when he becomes governor.
He lamented the unfortunate situation whereby “those things that made the state tick are now used to troll it, despite producing such eminent figures as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Chinua Achebe.”
Describing himself as a product of nature, Ozigbo declared, “Anambra State needs someone to restore it to its past glory in order to shine again in accordance with our “Ka Anambra Chawapu” mantra.
“The development of Anambra State is beyond politics. Every hand must be on deck to make that happen. This is why we must collectively ensure that the right person is supported to harness the state’s resources.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE