My dear Ndi Anambra,
In the early hours of today, I began this month by giving thanks to the Almighty God — the source of life, light, and every good thing. I am deeply grateful for His many tender mercies over our lives, the peace we often take for granted, and the lessons of the past months.
This year, the news headlines have been more anxiety-inducing than reassuring; it’s by God’s grace that we are standing today, hopeful, determined, and ready to embrace the promise of a new season.
So, the first quarter of the year has come and gone, leaving us with its lessons, triumphs, and challenges. Personally, I think it was a season of courageous decisions and bold moves.
Many of you know that I took an important step in my political journey — I joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), a decision that some found unexpected, but one that was made with deep reflection, in consultation with leaders across the political divide, and driven by a singular mission: the progress of Anambra.
In the past month, I have travelled across the length and breadth of our beloved state, meeting with leaders, stakeholders, youths, women, and grassroots party members in three historic town hall engagements in Anambra South, Central, and North. I have looked into the eyes of our people — in the markets, the churches, the community halls — and everywhere I went, I saw the same thing: a hunger for responsible, compassionate, and visionary leadership. It has inspired me beyond words.
And so, as we begin this second quarter of 2025, I am filled with hope, not because the path is easy, but because I know that when we move together, with purpose and unity, nothing is impossible.
History reminds us that destiny is not a script handed down to us; it is a story we are called to write with our own hands.
I reflect on the story of Nelson Mandela, which I read in his autobiography, “A Long Walk to Freedom”, who, after spending 27 years in prison, walked out not with bitterness but with the determination to change the future of South Africa.
He once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” That wisdom is as true today as it was then.
Like Mandela, we are at the cusp of something new, something bold, and we must choose hope over fear, unity over division, action over excuses.
I also think of Santiago, the young shepherd in “The Alchemist”, who left everything he knew to chase a dream that many thought foolish. He encountered obstacles, doubts, and despair along the way — but he kept going. Why? Because he understood something most people forget: The treasure is not at the end of the journey; the treasure is who we become on the way.
This new month is your invitation to begin again. Whether in your business, your family, your faith, or your dreams — the past three months may have tried you, but they have not defined you. You have the power to rewrite the story.
The coming months will test our resolve and unity as a people. We are in a defining season — not just for one political party, but for Anambra’s future. The November election will be a referendum on the kind of leadership we want for our children, our communities, and generations yet unborn.
I want you to know that I do not take your trust for granted. The decision to join APC was not about my ambition but strategy, capacity, and ensuring we have a platform that can deliver real change to Ndi Anambra.
In this new month, I encourage you to stay hopeful and engaged and never underestimate your power to shape the future.
Together, we can turn the page of history. Together, we can make April the month where our dreams take flight.
Happy New Month, Ndi Anambra.
The best is yet to come.
Ka Anambra Chawapu!
Valentine Ozigbo
April 1, 2025
Valentine Ozigbo is an inspirational Nigerian political figure, a multiple-award-winning global CEO, and the immediate past president and group chief executive of Transcorp Plc. He is the leading aspirant ahead of the 2025 Anambra Governorship election and was the first runner-up in the 2021 Anambra governorship election. He can be reached via Twitter @valentineozigbo, Facebook @valentineozigbo, and Instagram @valyntino.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
