…Ajumbe, Mbamara, Nwachukwu Champion Group
By Williams Odunze
The trending political issue of which Zone between Okigwe and Owerri will produce the next Governor of Imo State after Orlu zone has ruled for 24 years has taken another dimension as a new Political group; Owerri Zone Peoples Mandate, OWZOPEM,has debuted over the weekend.
The new group which is reportedly being championed by Prof.Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe,Capt.David Mbamara who is now designated as the Chairman of the new group and Chief Mike Nwachukwu who is also designated as the Chairman,Strategic Committee of the group.. has laid bay the focus of the group.
In a communique raise after their first meeting held in Owerri, weekend,Saturday, June 29, the group resolved to set up a High Powered committee with the task of reaching to Okigwe Zone through Okigwe Global Elders Forum as well as reach out to Orlu Zone through Orlu Political Consultative Assembly,OPOCA.
They stated that the major aim of reaching out to Okigwe is to avoid a clash of interest in their respective quests to produce the next Imo Governor .
The communique further stated that the group will write to the people of Ohaji/Egbema for their wise decision to remain in Imo State following the agitation of creating Orlu State by NASS .As they also commended the Governor, Hope Uzodinma on the good works he is doing in the State and his support for Owerri Zone to produce the next Governor.
The Communique also contained the aims and objectives of the meeting part of of which was a resolution to communicate as soon as possible those championing the cause of Okigwe Zone, particularly, the Okigwe Global Elders Forum led by HRH.Eze Oliver Ohanweh.
This it stated is in order to reach an understanding with them and avoid clash of interest of the two zones in their respective quests to produce the next Governor of the State.
Addressing the gathering, Chairman of the new group, Capt. Mbamara explained that no zone in Nigeria has suffered what Owerri Zone is suffering in terms of getting fairer deal of the Governorship slot.
He opined that since the inception of the present democratic dispensation in 1999 Owerri Zone has been marginalised.
The new chairman went down memory lane to informed that he was in Primary school when Imo State was created in 1976 and ever since then no Owerri Zone person has become governor.
He said that Owerri Zone has remained in the same political sorry state.
Speaking also,Prof.Ajumbe informed that the group is still at its formative stage and as such welcomes every new idea to help the zone .
He maintained that Owerri Zone needs to collaborate with others zones to produce a governor on 2027.
The meeting was well attended by political stakeholders across the zone.
