By Ebenezer Ojor
Stakeholders and people of Okigwe Zone, Imo State, have declared that justice and equity favour their zone to produce the next governor of the state in 2027.
This is even as they urged Owerri Zone to support Okigwe project in 2027, describing it as the shortest route to realising the dream of governor Owerri Zone of extraction.
At a meeting held at the residence of His Royal Majesty Eze Oliver Ohanweh at Isiama, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, with heavy weights in the zone including a former governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Sen Patrick Ndubueze who represents the zone in the Senate, Chief Tony Chukwu, ex-speaker Paul
Emeziem, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri, Prof Nwebo, Chief Longers Anyanwu, traditional rulers, stakeholders, presidents general, among others, in attendance, the people of the zone affirmed their unweaving support for the Imo Charter of Equity which according them, favours a governor of Okigwe Zone extraction to take over from the incumbent Sen Hope Uzodinma in 2027.
The chairman, Okigwe Global Elders’ Forum, Eze Ohanweh hinted that the meeting was for robust discussion and brainstorming on the way forward for Okigwe Zone.
Eze Ohanweh thanked the people of the zone for the massive support they gave Governor Hope Uzodinma during last year’s Imo governorship election, adding that Okigwe Zone produced the largest number of votes for the governor after Orlu.
The royal father noted that the meeting became necessary following recent developments, communiques, and comments by groups and individuals from other zones of Imo, a development he said, tended to suggest that Okigwe Zone was no longer relevant in the political calculation of the state.
The traditional ruler expressed optimism that the outcome of the meeting would address issues of concern to Okigwe Zone, as well as place the zone on equal pedestal with the other two zones of Imo State.
Also speaking, Sen Patrick Ndubueze urged all well-meaning indigenes of Okigwe Zone to throw their weight behind the quest for Imo governor of Okigwe extraction in 2027, describing it as a worthy venture.
Business mogul, Chief Tony Chukwu harped on the strategic position of a governor of a state. He reminded the zone that the incumbent Governor Uzodinma remained key in the zone’s bid to produce a governor in 2027.
He reiterated the massive support of Okigwe Zone to Uzodinma in the November 11, 2023 Imo gubernatorial election, emphasizing that the zone needed to present a common front,
reach out to all stakeholders including other zones in order to actualise the project.
Presenting a paper on the position of Okigwe Zone vis-à-vis the Imo Charter of Equity, a former National Working Committee, NWC, member of the APC, Chief Emma Ibediro went down the memory lane to highlight the various ways Okigwe Zone has been shortchanged in the sharing of political offices in the state. He recalled that Owerri Zone has benefited far more from infrastructure and sharing if political offices than Okigwe Zone.
He said Okigwe’s chance of completing it’s turn in 2011, was allegedly truncated by Owerri Zone leaders, insisting that such injustice must be remedied in 2027 in favour of Okigwe Zone.
A former Commissioner, Chief Longers Anyanwu, said the injustice meted on Okigwe Zone has to be redressed in 2027. He called on the people of Owerri Zone to support Okigwe Zone in 2027, describing it as the shortest root to their much-desired Imo governor of Owerri Zone extraction.
In his speech, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri said Okigwe Zone people were unequivocal in their resolve to gofor the governorship position in 2023.
The highlight of the event was the official adoption and presentation of Okigwe Zone’s position paper on the Imo Charter of Equity to Okigwe Global Elders Forum led by members of Okigwe Global League including Chief Longers Anyanwu and Chief Emma Ibediro.
Other notable personalities that attended the event were ex-SGI, Chief Mark Uchendu, Barr Charles Ezekwem, Imo Assembly members for Isiama Mbano and Ehime Mbano state constituencies, Chief Francis Ihechere, Chief Monday Ikeokwu, presidents of all presidents general in the six LGA s of Okigwe Zone, among others.
