It being drown to the notice of the leadership of Owerri People’s Front (OPF) that some group of people from Orlu zone lead by Senator Hope Uzodimma are fermenting trouble in Owerri Zone.
For avoidance of doubt, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Orlu Zone, propagating the story that he is the alpha and omega in Imo State PDP has been attempting to outwit some elderly people from Owerri Zone that he is the one to decide who contests for gubernatorial election in 2015.
By implication he has admitted that the governorship position in 2015 has been zoned to Owerri. However, what those elderly people do not know is that while they naively believe him, he is using them to build a platform to penetrate Owerri Zone and destroy it politically. In the name of a handshake across Njaba. A few dollars distributed should not be the price for Owerri birth right.
The question is where are Governor Achike Udenwa, Hon ThankGod Ezeani, Nze Ignatus Umunna, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, Eze Ilomuanya, Hon Batos Nwadike, Nze Elivis Agukwe, Professor Protus Uzoma, House of Representatives members, Chief Tony Ezenna, JAFAC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, House of Assembly members, Former Speaker of House Assembly, Goodluck Opiah and many other leaders in Orlu Zone who PDP Imo State know are men of integrity?
On the Owerri part, where are Chief Dr. E.C Iwuanyanwu, Barr. Humphrey Anumodu, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, Dr. Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Senator Chris Anyanwu all the House of Representative and the House of Assembly members and the leadership has ignored Hope Uzodimma’s well known antic in order to preserve the fragile unity in the party. As soon as the unity was built and fortified, Hope Uzodimma started the game he known’s how best to play. First, Rt. Hon Ihedioha as the statutory leader of Imo PDP was convening meetings to unite the party in Imo State and the Abuja-based leaders. All was well till Hope Uzodimma saw the business loss of such unity. For the sake of the party it is not right to enumerate senator Hope Uzodimma’s efforts to either pocket Imo PDP or destroy it.
Now his game is up. The publications against Ambassador Kema Chikwe allegedly sponsored by him is the end of his plot against the party. The allegation of Amb. Dr. Kema Chikwe campaigning for Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha is ridiculous. PDP has not started campaigns in line with INECS guideline. Are the authors of the document accusing PDP of campaigning? The answer is that there is no campaign, it is only a preemptive blackmail. What is the point attacking a woman who did not attack him or the authors of the advertorial in local and national Newspapers?
It is on record that in 2007, there were 29 aspirants in PDP who contested the gubernatorial primaries. Amb. Dr. Kema Chikwe came 5th and 1st in Owerri zone with 750 votes. The first four aspirants including Senator Uzodimma who came 3rd were disqualified. The party skipped taking Amb. Dr. Kema Chikwe as the candidate because of the insistence that it was zoned to Okigwe. What was painful to Owerri Zone was that they had laid claims to the fact the it was the turn of Okigwe zone. The zoning to Okigwe actually came up in the middle of the race. In the interest of peace and unity of the party, Owerri zone yielded.
How much can Owerri Zone keep sacrificing and yielding? Now only one man is masquerading and telling Imo people that Owerri zone son, Ihedoha and daughter, Kema Chikwe must be destroyed in the press because they hold strategic positions. This is an attempt to strip Owerri Zone naked politically.
We call on Owerri zonal Leaders and youths, especially women to resist any campaign of calumny. To face the ultimate goal and its ‘ price which is victory for PDP with Owerri Zone Governor.
There are many aspirants from Owerri zone and none of them should be insulted by anybody, at the appropriate time a candidate, will emerged through the party primaries.
For Senator Hope Uzodimma, he should be a Statesman and a party man and control his supporters from over zealousness. He should also work with Orlu zone leadership who are men, women and youth of integrity. These press attacks must stop in line with Imo State PDP code of conduct. The State Chairman Barr. Nnamdi Anyaelue should wade in.
Meanwhile a group of youths from Owerri zone operating under the body known as Owerri youth council has instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking for the interpretation of section 14 sub sections (3) and (4) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic on Nigeria as it concerns the equitable spread of political offices in Nigeria.
In a matter between Barr. Okere Kingdom & ors Vs the Governor of Imo state & ors, suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/166/14, the youths are contending that Owerri zone has not been given sense of belonging in the Governorship position of Imo state as provided for in the 1999 constitution(as amended). The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria provides in section 14 (3) and (4) that the composition of the government of the federation shall be composed in a way as to avoid predominance of one people over another and the need to give the peoples of the federation a sense of belonging. The youths are therefore asking the court to interpret whether or not the composition of the government of the state begins with electing a governor and whether section 14 (4) should apply.
Owerri youth council is a dynamic youth association under the leadership of Barr. Kingdom Okere, the former Students’ Union Government President of Imo State University, Owerri. The aims and objectives of the group are To galvanize support for Owerri Zonal Leaders, support the struggle for emancipation and political interest of Owerri Zone; and more importantly champion socio-economic development, political renaissance, equity, justice and fair play in the polity of Imo state and Nigeria at large, and To defend the political interest of Nde Owerri in the Imo socio-political milieu, through progressive and constructive-persuasive approaches and agitations on critical issues that concern Nde Owerri.
The group is seeking the following reliefs (1) An Order of the Court prohibiting All Registered political parties in Nigeria (the 2nd set of Defendants) in the suit from nominating any Governorship candidate in Imo State outside Owerri Zone come 2015 Governorship election in Imo state. (2) An Order of the Court mandating All Registered political parties in Nigeria (the 2nd set of Defendants) in the suit to nominate Governorship candidates in Imo state who are from Owerri Zone come 2015 only, among other prayers. The matter is slated for hearing in Abuja on the 12 of June 2014.
