A fresh move by some leaders of Owerri zone to stampede Governor Hope Uzodimma into giving a blanket endorsement for the zone to produce his successor hit a hard wall yesterday at a meeting of stakeholders from the zone at the Sam Mbakwe exco chambers, Government House Owerri. The leader of one of the groups championing the Owerri zone governorship project, the Imo Harmony Project (IHP), Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, had, while kicking off the meeting, told the governor that the purpose of seeking audience with him was to remind him of the need for a fellow from Owerri zone to emerge as his successor in the spirit of the Imo Charter of Equity. Ihenacho told the governor that all the stakeholders in the Owerri zone were in agreement in presenting the request to him. His claim was reinforced by former Aviation Minister, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, who, in a show of drama, asked, “Ndi Owerri Zone, Okwa Ukwu Anyi Wu Otu” (Owerri zone people, I believe we are united on this); to which some people chorused, “yes ”.
The two speakers had, while speaking, showered encomiums on the governor with Mrs. Chikwe describing him as the “best governor in Nigeria”. But in responding, Governor Uzodimma thanked them for all the accolades. He stated that he does not believe that the Owerri zone leaders are going about their quest in the right manner. He said their quest was based more on individual interest than the collective interest of the people of the zone. “Charter of Equity is not based on individuals but on zones”, Uzodimma told the gathering, adding that the people of the zone should first and foremost go and reconcile their differences.
In a no-holds-bared manner, the governor said that even though he has heard so much talk that it is the turn of Owerri, “Power does not come on the basis of turn by turn”, re-iterating once again that even though he believes in the Charter of Equity, it will be “based on competence”. He appealed to the Owerri stakeholders not to overheat the polity as that would distract from his assignment. “Don’t overheat the polity so that I can do more for the people. I still have three more years to go” Uzodimma told his visitors.
The governor disclosed that he decided to call for an all-inclusive Owerri zone stakeholders meeting after he discovered that the IHP which had earlier written a letter requesting an audience with him, does not embrace most of the critical stakeholders in the zone, and re-iterated the need for the people of the zone to go and first put their house in order.
Among stakeholders from Owerri in attendance were Prince Lemmy Akakem, Dr. Mcdonald Ebere, Imo state chairman of the APC, Prince Marcelenus Nlemigbo, Prince Charls Amadi (Charvon), Chief Henry Njoku (Harritex), Okenze Sylvester Obinna, Barr. Soronnadi Njoku, Barr. Kingsley Onunoju etc. Also in attendance were the two members of the House of Representatives from Owerri Zone, Hon Akarachi Amadi and Hon Tochi Okere, some members of the Imo State House of Assembly from Owerri zone and members of the Imo state expanded executive council. Earlier, Hon. Akarachi Amadi, representing Mbaike federal constituency, had moved a motion for a vote of confidence on the governor. The motion was seconded by Hon. Tochi Okere, representing the Owerri federal constituency. It was supported by members of the Imo state House of Assembly after which a majority voice vote endorsed it.
