By Chigozie Igbo Jr
Valentine Ozigbo, former President of Transcorp Plc and 2025 Anambra Governorship aspirant under the platform of the APC has issued an urgent open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to take bold and decisive steps to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, weak institutions, and rising national anxieties.
In the letter, Ozigbo said he was compelled to go public due to what he described as the “deepening cycle of violence and preventable tragedies” affecting millions of Nigerians. He cited recent incidents, including the abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi, the killing of worshippers in Kwara, multiple highway kidnappings, and the murder of a military general by bandits.
“These are not just headlines, but open wounds on the conscience of our Republic,” he wrote, stressing that the President holds the constitutional responsibility to steady the nation at a time of “gathering storms.”
Ozigbo outlined five key areas where he believes urgent presidential action is required.
First, he called for a decisive national security campaign, insisting that the country has capable security forces but lacks unified political will. He urged President Tinubu to confront terror financiers, collaborators, and their networks, saying, “Leadership, at its core, is moral clarity.”
Secondly, he also criticised what he described as the dangerous silence of national moral voices, including elders, faith leaders, and statesmen. He urged the President to rally these voices to strengthen national unity and resilience.
Ozigbo further recommended a structural reform agenda built around the Orange Union Model, proposed by The Fatherland Group. The model envisions Nigeria as a union of regions with shared defence, foreign policy, and currency but stronger autonomy for innovation and justice.
He argued that embracing the model could become one of Tinubu’s most significant legacies.
Valentine Ozigbo however called for a renewed commitment to rule of law and judicial integrity, warning that electoral malpractices and judicial compromise threaten national stability. He advocated for reforms including electronic voting, real-time transmission of results, and independent candidacy.
He urged the President not to undermine political opposition, noting that democracy cannot survive without a competitive political environment. According to him, “A confident leader does not fear dissent; he cultivates it.”
Ozigbo also used the letter to make a passionate appeal for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom he visited recently. He argued that a political solution would reduce violence in the South East and promote national healing. “Even if he erred, nations are healed through mercy, not martyrdom,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Ozigbo ended the letter on a hopeful note, expressing confidence that Nigeria can still rise if the right leadership choices are made.
“Nigeria has reached an inflection point,” he wrote. “If you choose courage over caution, history will look kindly on your tenure.”