Ikemba Front Berates Ozigbo, Claims He Joined APC With ‘Poisoned Chalice’

By Praise Chinecherem

Ikemba Front, a political support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has berated Valentine Ozigbo, former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 election, claiming he joined the party “with a poisoned chalice”.

The group through its National Coordinator, Sir Arinzechikwu Awogu, said Ozigbo who later became Labour Party chieftain and joined APC few days to the submission of nomination, expression of interest forms and submission of filled delegates forms is currently manifesting his intention to join the party even though late.

Awogu noted that the core reason Chief Ozigbo pretended to have joined APC was what was playing out at the moment, “a written script intended to cause disaffection, an attempt to destabilize the party and cause considerable damage in its fabrics” which the group said has comprehensively failed.

He dismissed Ozigbo’s claims as non-existent and unnecessary distraction, challenging him to disproof the fact that his intention for joining the party was not to weaken the resolve of the party in order to profit his pay masters ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He assured that Anambra State under Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu would play a major role in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in Anambra State.

“Chief Valentine Chineto Ozigbo knew he was not in the race to win. First, he joined the party when the party had finished selling her delegate forms. So he had no forms to give to his supporters.

“Secondly, he joined the party few days to the submission of nomination and expression of interest forms and the submission of already filled delegates forms, and as such did not know those who filled delegates forms and could not approach them.

“The list of successful delegates was released on Thursday, 3rd of April with primaries holding on the 5th of April, and he could not reach anybody” explained Awogu

According to former Ogbaru Local Government Council Chairman, Ozigbo was only able to meet some delegates in the morning of the day of the primary at Marble Arch and Beautiful Gate venues of delegate accreditation, asking if it was Ukachukwu’s fault that he (Ozigbo) did not join the party earlier.

“Was it Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu’s making that Chief Val Ozigbo did not buy delegate forms for his supporters? I mean, I am at a loss with Val Ozigbo’s grouse.

“How could he have expected to win the primary when all odds were against him starting from his not purchasing delegate forms for his supporters?” he quipped.

Awogu further argued that Ozigbo joined the party without any structure and followers, and relied only on the church to hand him over the ticket of the party but unfortunately the church chose to remain neutral all through the process of the primary.

The Ikemba Front helmsman, maintained that “assumptions, sentiments and emotions had in no time formed the bedrock of any serious contender in any contest”.

“Val Ozigbo should have known that he was not in any way near the APC governorship ticket for Anambra State. Since he has approached the court, he should allow the court to determine the matter than looking for the sympathy of the people that doesn’t exist,” he added.

In another development, some traders under the aegis of Aggrieved Integrated Traders Welfare Association (AITWA), led by Chief Bernard Okeke have lamented the silent pain of an average trader in Anambra State owing to increased levies that the Chukwuma Soludo administration collect from them.

Okeke who spoke when they visited the National Coordinator of Ikemba Front described the foisted market chairmen as modern day “Warrant Chiefs”, saying that traders were patiently waiting to demonstrate their feelings during the November 8th election.

Responding, Sir Awogu assured the traders that Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu being a trader himself understands the current plights of traders in the State and the need to allow markets in the state to determine their own leaderships.

“Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu will ensure the independence of markets in Anambra State just as he will not interfere with the running of communities and in the emergence of Ndi-Igwes and Town Union leaderships in the State” he said.