The Quiet Force Behind the Vision” – Chief Uzuegbuna Okagbue’s Acceptance Speech as YPP Deputy Governorship Candidate
Delivered to a crowd of passionate party faithful, political observers, and the press corps in Awka on April 25, 2025, Chief Uzuegbuna Okagbue’s acceptance speech as the running mate to Sir Paul Chukwuma, the Young Progressive Party’s gubernatorial candidate, was anything but ordinary. It was measured, rich in substance, and cast in the tone of a leader who knows exactly what he is coming to do—not for himself, but for the people of Anambra State.
The speech was not a performance; it was a projection of purpose. Below are extensive excerpts and narrative reflections from Chief Okagbue’s rousing address.
“I stand before you today not just as a man chosen to deputize an excellent, cerebral, and charismatic candidate—Sir Paul Chukwuma—but as one who understands the weight of this moment, the burden of trust it carries, and the duty it demands.”
Chief Uzuegbuna Okagbue, popularly known as Uzu, began his speech with the quiet elegance that has defined his career in both public service and private enterprise. His entry into the race is not a political accident—it is a strategic convergence of loyalty, capacity, and deep-rooted understanding of governance.
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An Abridged Citation of Chief Uzuegbuna Okagbue
“This journey is not about ambition; it is about responsibility. It is about stepping into the gap between what our people deserve and what they have received. It is about making sure that the voice of the people echoes through the policies of the government. And above all, it is about service.”
In perhaps the most quoted section of his speech, Uzu declared:
“What I bring to the table is unwavering loyalty to the vision we share, the competence to complement our candidate’s leadership, and the capacity to get things done behind the scenes. My strength lies in turning strategy into action, ensuring that our promises don’t remain on paper but are felt in the lives of our people.”
This was a defining moment. In a political climate often driven by personality cults and loud rhetoric, Chief Okagbue offers a different template—one based on delivery, discretion, and dependability.
Political observers noted that Uzu’s speech positioned him as the stabilizer in the ticket, a man who embodies the tactical depth required to make a visionary government function.
As a man who has served quietly but powerfully behind the scenes—most notably as the Chief of Protocol and later the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Willie Obiano—Uzu understands the internal mechanics of leadership.
“I understand that leadership is not just about the person at the top—it’s also about the strength of the team around him. I am here to provide that strength, that balance, and that quiet force that ensures our mission succeeds.”
It was a statement that resonated with the civil service community and political aides across the state. His pledge to serve not as a shadow, but as a trusted pillar, carries weight, especially for a candidate like Sir Paul Chukwuma, who is already regarded as intellectually formidable but less known for political field operations.
Chief Okagbue’s vision is not merely bureaucratic; it is transformative. Throughout his speech, he underscored the need to reorient the purpose of governance.
“We are not in this race to acquire power for its own sake. Power, to us, is a tool—to lift the people, to fix broken systems, to inspire a new culture of excellence. I believe that power should be silent in appearance but thunderous in impact.”
He painted a picture of a government that doesn’t just make promises but delivers progress with clinical precision. According to him, the new administration under the YPP will focus on measurable outcomes: rural transformation, youth empowerment, civil service reform, and technology-driven governance.
Chief Okagbue emphasized the need for a government that is truly present in the lives of ordinary citizens. He said:
“For too long, government has been a distant institution. We must bring it home. Whether it’s a market woman in Otuocha, a farmer in Umunze, or a young entrepreneur in Onitsha, they must feel that government is not just a shadow in Awka—it is a light in their daily struggle.”
He promised that under the YPP administration, local governments will be empowered, community-driven projects will be prioritized, and public officers will be held accountable for their deliverables.
Chief Okagbue spoke from experience, not idealism. He reminded the audience of his years of service under Governor Willie Obiano, where he served with integrity and distinction.
“I have been in the engine room. I know what works. I know what slows down government. I have taken notes in silence, and I am ready to act with precision.”
By referencing his background as both a banker and a government official, Uzu projected a unique hybrid of efficiency and policy depth.
Chief Okagbue’s philanthropic credentials are well known, but during his speech, he emotionally acknowledged the people who gave him the title “Ochu alili Umuogbenye.”
“I didn’t inherit that name. I earned it—from the widow whose child I helped back to school, from the youth whose start-up I funded, and from the community where I brokered peace after decades of tension.”
He assured the audience that as Deputy Governor, his office will remain a hub for community engagement, social interventions, and grassroots inclusion.
In his closing remarks, Chief Okagbue summarized the core vision of the campaign.
“We do not offer drama. We offer solutions. We will build a new Anambra—one community at a time, one child at a time, one solution at a time. We will not run a government of noise, but of results. And when the results speak, even our critics will be silent.”
The applause was deafening. In those final lines, Uzu struck a chord that defined not just his speech, but the political doctrine of the YPP ticket—pragmatism over performance, delivery over deception.
Throughout his speech, Uzu subtly reaffirmed his running mate’s leadership while articulating his own complementary role.
“Sir Paul is the mind; I am the muscle. He sets the tone; I ensure the tempo. Together, we are the bridge between vision and execution.”
This metaphor of partnership—of balance—differentiates their ticket in a crowded political field. Where other candidates focus on individual charisma, the YPP duo presents itself as a team built for excellence and effectiveness.
Following the speech, reactions poured in from civil society groups, traditional rulers, youth organizations, and even political analysts from rival parties.
“I’ve listened to many speeches, but Uzu’s is different. He speaks like a man who understands both the boardroom and the village square,” said Mrs. Ifeoma Nweke, a policy analyst based in Nnewi.
The traditional ruler of Umunnachi, HRH Igwe Emeka Nnaji, said: “Our son has made us proud. Uzu is not a politician. He is a servant-leader. He speaks with calm fire.”
On social media, the hashtags #UzuSpeaks and #TeamYPP trended for hours, with users praising his delivery, message, and humility.
In Chief Uzuegbuna Okagbue, the Young Progressive Party has not just found a deputy; it has found a builder, a stabilizer, a strategist, and a man whose loyalty is not for sale. His acceptance speech has drawn a clear line between performance politics and transformational governance.
As Anambra State prepares for the November 8, 2025, election, one thing is certain: Uzu is not in the race to shine for the cameras—he is here to work, to build, and to quietly lead a revolution of results.
Excerpts from my acceptance speech, as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party, in the November 8, 2025, Anambra State Governorship Election:
What I bring to the table is unwavering loyalty to the vision we share, the competence to complement our candidate’s leadership, and the capacity to get things done behind the scenes. My strength lies in turning strategy into action, ensuring that our promises don’t remain on paper but are felt in the lives of our people. I understand that leadership is not just about the person at the top—it’s also about the strength of the team around him. I am here to provide that strength, that balance, and that quiet force that ensures our mission succeeds. I bring depth, dedication, and a track record of delivery that will help transform vision into tangible progress.
