Fortunately, Owerri is the capital of Imo state since the creation of the State in 1976. But unfortunately the host city to the Douglas House seat of Power has not produced any Governor for the state except for 18 months under Senator Evan Enwerem.
However, other political zones; Okigwe and Orlu have occupied the plum job for too many years that have left Owerri frustrated and confused.
At the inception of Democratic experience in 1979 when General Obasanjo handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, Bar Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe of the Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe-led Nigeria Peoples Party NPP, won the Governorship of old Imo state, comprising of now Abia state and a part of the present Ebonyi State.
Chief Sam Mbakwe hails from Obowo of the Etiti old County Council in Okigwe zone. He was in power for four years. He won a fresh mandate for a second term, which was cut-short by the Generals Buhari and Idiagbon junta. Therefore, technically Mbakwe was given eight years slot by Imo people but was only to execute four years of it, and a sprinkle of months on the fresh mandate before the soldiers struck.
When the soldiers tried again to hand over power in 1991, Chief Evan Enwerem, from Atta in Ikeduru LGA in Owerri zone emerged the governor of Imo state.
Unfortunately for Enwerem who later became President of the Senate, and Owerri zone, his tenure was short-lived as he spent only 18 months in office before another set of military adventurists sacked him and other civilians. This happened in 1993.
But when General Abdusalami Abubakar called for another Civilian administration after the deaths of Abiola and Shehu Yaradua had created opportunity for yet again another experiment, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in Imo state called for its Governorship primaries in 1998.
In that contest was young and rich politicians. They include Bar Humphrey Anumudu from Mbieri, Owerri zone, Chief Rochas Okorocha, from Ogboko in Ideato South, Orlu zone. Others were Chief Greg Mbadiwe, from Arondizuogu, in Ideato North and Chief Achike Udenwa, a native of Amaifeke in Orlu LGA all in Orlu zone. Therefore, apart from Anumudu who hails from Owerri zone, the other three contestants were from Orlu.
After the keenly contested primaries, the Owerri man, Humphrey Anumuu won clean, fair and square. But the result was deliberately delayed; as political horse tradings took over the entire exercise.
But following superior arguments from PDP hierarchy then, Anumudu who came first was dropped for Achike Udenwa who was said to have come fourth.
Mbadiwe and Okorocha who came second and third respectively, were left out for Udenwa. When questioned, the Elders said since Owerri had under Enwerem been Governor in 1993, and Okigwe under Mbakwe in 1979-83, it behooves that Orlu should be given a sense of belonging by allowing her produce the next Governor.
But why not Mbadiwe who came second? The political God fathers said they “cannot control” Mbadiwe and Okorocha, and therefore went for Udenwa who looked calm, quiet and humble.
After the election in 1999, Udenwa was sworn-in as the third Executive Governor of Imo state, and yet again in 2003 for a second term.
When his tenure expired in 2007, the powers that be in Imo PDP said power should return to Okigwe, after which Owerri will take-over.
Unfortunately, Udenwa could not make up his mind in Eight years in who to hand over-power from Okigwe zone.
At the beginning, it was assumed it would be Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who wined and dined with Udenwa then.
When suddenly both men fell apart, everybody thought it would be Engineer Ebere Udeagu, who was then Udenwa’s deputy. But Udenwa was not forthcoming in making a categorical statement on who should be his successor.
Suddenly again, Chief Ike Ibe’s name cropped up, but during the primaries at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Udenwa abandoned Ibe, as Hope Uzodimma, who joined the race less than a month shocked pundits and came second, behind Araraume.
But suffice it to say that in the end Chief Ikedi Ohakim, from Okohia in Isiala Mbano LGA, in Okigwe zone became Udenwa successor on May 29th, 2007 from under the platform of Peoples Progressive Party, PPA.
In 2011, Ohakim received PDP’s ticket for a second term, but could not make it as many of those who made him in 2007, including Udenwa conspired to deny him a second chance.
Under this scenario, PDP lost the Imo Governorship to the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, who paraded Owelle Rochas Okorocha as its candidate. And Okorocha is from Orlu zone, despite not being a member of PDP that recognizes zoning of Imo Governorship among the three political zones of Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe.
However, judging by the practical facts on ground, since 1979 that Mbakwe became Governor of Imo state, Okigwe zone has ruled Imo state for eight years and some months. Mbakwe’s four years and some months and Ohakim four years.
Orlu has ruled Imo state for Eleven years. Udenwa’s Eight years, and Okorocha’s three years, by May 2014 and still counting.
Unfortunately, Owerri still has the 18 months recorded during the Enwerem tenure. However, if politics is played by sentiment, and if Imo zoning formula was enshrined into any law in the state, one would comparatively say that it is the due right of Owerri people to be handed the Imo guber slot in 2015.
In principle, based on the number of years Okigwe and Orlu had occupied Douglas House, it is absolutely clear that Owerri is highly marginalized in this regard.
Based on equity and fair play, Owerri deserves to produce the next Governor of Imo state. It has a good argument to present to her brother zones. But it must be done with decorum, decency, and not with force and words of intimidation, because power can be negotiated under good environment, even though political theories have shown that power is taken, and not given.
In the present circumstance facing Ndi Owerre, they can negotiate power here, because both Okigwe and Orlu are made of human beings with bloods flowing through their veins.
That Owerri remained calm since 1993 till date does not show fear or timidity, but act of maturity for peace and development of Imo state.
When an Owerri man won, (Humphrey Anumudu) the PDP primaries in 1998 and was instructed to step down, he did so for the peace of Imo state, even though the zone hosts the seat of power.
Therefore, Orlu and Okigwe should see reason to support Owerri in 2015. Although signals from Orlu indicate that the zone is amenable to Owerri taking power in 2015, the majority observation filtering from Okigwe is that the zone is insisting that it must complete its Eight years tenure in 2015, having been cut-short in 2011.
This, it was learnt, is the reason Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has joined the guber race, and the rumoured whispering in some quarters that Ohakim may also join the queue.
Despite all the permutations going round, a keen observer will notice that there seems to be a tacit approval by men of conscience that Owerri deserves Imo guber in 2015, having shown a lot of patience and maturity all these years.
Any wonder the zone is awash with Aspirants for the coveted seat? Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Sen Bright Nwanne, Dr Agumuoh, Chief Ojiri, Prof Jude Njoku, Chief Jerry Chuwkwueke, Bar Humphrey Anumudu, Rt Hon Bethel Amadi, Sen Chris Anyanwu, Bar Bethel Nzimako, Engr Emma Ojinere, Bar Ken Njemanze, Chief Felix Amadi, Captain Mbamala, Captain Emma Ihenacho, Bar Unegbu, Chief Eze Madumere, Dr Charles Onuoha, Chief Erivo, Sir Jude Ejiogu and others still expected to join the race soon.
Among this plethora of Aspirants from Owerri are qualified men and woman who can hold their own at any place and time. But the one million naira question now is, assuming PDP, Okigwe and Orlu zones agree to hand the ticket to Owerri zone, how does Owerri jostling prune down this unwieldy number of sterling personalities for this singular coveted slot? Who among them will step down for the other or others?
Ihedioha; youthful and vibrant politician, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, with enough political and administrative experience, Nwanne; a former Senator with a flourishing and booming business; Agumuoh, an acclaimed medical Doctor of no mean repute, Njoku; astute technocrat and academia; Chukwueke; Business mogul and great mobilizer; Anumudu, deep pockets, calm and experienced politician; Amadi; A lawyer and president of African Parliament, and experienced lawmaker, Senator Anyanwu; dogged fighter and brilliant professional; Ojinere; oil magnate and Entrepreneur; Njemanze, erudite Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN; Felix Amadi; a successful Businessman; Mbamala; a retired Army Captain, Iheanacho; Shipping Magnet and rich tycoon, Unegbu; a successful lawyer, Dr Charles Onuoha; technocrat and successful businessman; Erivo, Businessman; Ejiogu Amarican trained Banker; Madumere; American Trained Administrator. The number is endless.
How will Owerri manage this legion of erudite personalities and successful businessmen in their own rights?
This is the big task that faces not only PDP and Owerri zone. Iheanacho and Unegbu are of APGA while Madumere, Onuoha, Erivo and Ejiogu are of APC.
In these calculations and developments, it must be noted that the incumbent Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha is running. Therefore, if Owerri ends up producing a PDP candidate, will what took place in 2011 repeat itself? I mean, will Orlu people vote for PDP, that is, the Owerri man, or will they vote Rochas Okorocha again, even though he is of the APC extraction?
This question is very pertinent, if one rewinds back to what happened in 2011 where Okorocha got over 30,000 votes in Orlu zone, higher than that of PDP. Remember that Orlu has 12 LGAs and theorically seen as densely populated with PDP followers.
In the event that an Owerri man flies PDP guber ticket in 2011, will Okigwe people show their support, or will they resurrect their quest for a “second term” and the allegation that Owerri zone cost their son, Ohakim a second term victory?
Honestly, many things need to be sorted out before next year. And it involves the PDP, Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri zones. Time will tell. No party should be left out in this parley. Owerri zone, this is your chance, will you miss it? Will PDP throw away the child with the bath water? The solution needs a sincere and concerted discussion by all that are involved.
