Chidiebube Okeoma, 08060131756
For posterity’s sake, people like us will continue to offer our vocal and dispassionate opinions or the political, socio-economic issues affecting our dear state, Imo. As the 2015 elections approach in the state, many questions, thoughts and permutations have been raised as who holds sway in Imo Douglas house. The most prominent issue, which has become controversial is the issue of “Imo Charter of Equity,” which the youths of Owerri zone have continuously laid claim to. In order to press home their demand of an “Owerri-zone governor in 2015, the youths, operating under the aegis of “COALITION OF ALL OWERRI YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS” held a one day delegate conference on September 13, 2014, to press home this demand. The conference raised a nine paragraph communique.
Personally as a conscious and informed Imo Youth, I have issue with almost all the issues raised by my brothers from Owerri Zone who are insisting on producing the next Imo governor. It is imperative I state, that the political developments of 2011 which led to the emergence of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as governor are still fresh. But it becomes worrisome when Owerri zone Youths try to paint a picture that makes it looks as if all of us were abroad when the people of Owerri zone rejected Okigwe Zone on the basis of politics of betrayal.
I stoutly pick an objection on paragraph 3 of the communique, wherein the youths mandated all the political parties in Imo State to focus their searchlight on candidates from Owerri zone, saying it is just, fair and equitable. But I assert that an Okigwe Zone governor in 2015, is not only fair, just and important, it is a necessity and in the best interest of our dear state. I strongly know that he that goes to the equity must go with clean hands, in this regards, my brothers from Owerri Zone have no justification, to demand for Imo Plum position on the premise of zoning. Democracy forbids lies, dishonesty and parochial interest, and this is what coalition of All Owerri Youth Associations has exhibited and showcased.
It is expedient to note that it was Owerri Zone that facilitated the emergence of Owelle Okorocha as Governor in 2011. Owerri zone did not only give Orlu zone the majority votes, but they made sure that Okigwe Zone was voted out of Power. Owerri Zone has 9 Local Government Areas, five gave their votes to Orlu Zone making sure that Okigwe Zone did not complete its tenure. The other Local Government Area in Owerri Zone, P.D.P won, were slight victories. It is important to also recollect that when the former Governor of the State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim was shouting on top of his voice that he was the only governorship candidate that would ensure an Owerri Zone governor in 2015 based on the Charter of equity, Owerri People turned down his plea. Owerri People were of the opinion that Imo Charter of equity was not the best for our State. Better put, Owerri zone truncated Imo Charter of equity. So it is utterly wrong, morally unacceptable and logically irrelevant for the youths of Owerri zone to be asking all the political parties in the state to consider candidates from Owerri Zone as their flag bearers for the governorship election.
Owerri Zone asking for the soul of Imo on the basis of Imo Charter of equity is an insult and affront on the sensibilities of every informed Imolite who is not beclouded by parochial interest and sentiment. Let me say that if Owerri zone never liked the face of Governor Ohakim for reelection, there were several other Okigwe zone sons who were also in the race. What happened to the likes of Sen. Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume, Barr. Ike C. Ibe, Chief A.B.C Lemchi, Chief Emeka Duru, etc. who were all governorship candidates? Were they also hated by Owerri People?
The truth of the matter is that Owerri Zone is the architect of the truncation of Imo Charter of equity.” It was deliberately done and executed by Owerri Zone against the people of Okigwe Zone. What is what doing, is what doing well, Owerri Zone did not only ensure that Orlu Zone produced the governor in 2011, but they backed Orlu Zone up with political structures, finanC|P and mass based support groups. The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, which was owned and piloted by a family in Owerri Zone gave its governorship ticket to an Orlu Zone man. The then serving minister of the Federal Republic was suspended from the Federal executive Council for alleged anti-party activities simply because he supported an Orlu Zone project when there were multiple governorship candidates from Okigwe Zone. Do these illustrations not depict that Owerri Zone deliberately truncated the zoning arrangement in Imo State in 2011 to punish Okigwe people?
In paragraph 2 of the communique, the youths opined! “That time has come when Ndi-Owerri Zone must speak with one voice in defense of our political right in the Imo Power-Sharing Formula. Owerri youths have risen to the challenge to champion the struggle for equity, justice and fair play.” But I opin that the reverse is the case. An Okigwe Zone governor in 2015, is for justice, fair play and equity driven. When Orlu Zone were in power between1999-2007, Okigwe zone as strong adherent and advocates of the Charters of equity, supported Orlu Zone through Chief Achike Udenwa to rule Imo for eight uninterrupted years. It is important to state that without Okigwe Zone, Chief Udenwa wouldn’t have returned as governor in 2007. All the political leaders of Okigwe Zone through the then serving senator, Ifeanyi Araraume, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Chief Maurice Igbokwe, Barr. Ike C. Ibe, etc. made sure that Chief Udenwa was returned as governor in the spirit of equity, despite the strong opposition put up by Owerri zone and some people in Orlu zone. Okigwe zone gave its six local government Areas to Chief Udenwa when it mattered most just to maintain the charter of equity. What else are we talking about? When Okigwe zone realized that 2007 would be their turn to produce the governor, they thought it wise to make sure that no body nor circumstance could truncate what would be theirs in 2007.
In 2011 when it was expected of Owerri zone to replicate what Okigwe zone did in 2003, Owerri zone failed. Instead of Owerri zone to join forces with Okigwe zone to make sure that 2015 was undoubtedly and unarguably theirs, Owerri zone decided to pitch tent with a zone that had in the past held sway in the state for eight years, living Okigwe zone at a disadvantaged position, politically, economically and developmentally. All over the world, power is taken, not given, so when Owerri zone says, Okigwe zone was its own problems by producing multiple governorship candidates in 2011,1 laugh over it. I also ask, did Chief Udenwa win re-election in 20^3 without strong opposition from his brothers, especially, Chief Ezekiel Ezuogu, Chief Hope Uzodinma and many other people from Orlu zone?
Opposition, strong one for that matter is very important in politics, especially in a democratic setting. Owerri zone only based their betrayal to Okigwe zone on the subject that Sen. Araraume fought Chief Ohakim; didn’t Izuogu and Chief Uzodinma fight Udenwa in 2003? What happened? Didn’t Okigwe one support the incumbent to complete his tenure to pave way for another zone to take over in the best interest of Imo charter of equity?
In PDP in 2011, the betrayal the then incumbent governor had, mostly were from Owerri zone, despite the developmental strides, infrastructural and human capacity developments which Chief Ohakim centered in Owerri zone, the people of the senatorial district rejected not just him, but the chances of Okigwe zone completing its tenure when it mattered most, too bad. It is germane to note that most visible projects in Chief Ohakim’s administration were centered in Owerri zone. Owerri, the capital city became one of the best in Nigeria, both in terms of cleanliness, architectural design and economic development. I remember vividly that under Ohakim’s government, Owerri was declared the cleanest city in Nigeria in three consecutive times, 2008, 2009, and 2010 by the federal ministry of environment. One now begin to ask that despite the things Ohakim did for Ndi-Owerri, the people still rejected him during the 2011 general election, saying that charter of equity begets mediocrity and opted for an Orlu man. And three years after, they are asking for the plum position on the basis of that which they truncated in 2011, is this just and fair? It is a replica of one eating his or her vomit.
In the same communique, the youths opined that one of the reasons they ask for Imo charter of equity, is to seek balance in the development of the state. But I make bold to say that if there is any zone in Imo state which is shortchanged in terms of developmental strides, it is definitely, Okigwe zone. Imo State University, Owerri, IMSU, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Federal Girls Government College, Imo Government House, Imo Specialist Hospital, Imo State Secretariat, Imo International Conference Centre, Ahiajoku Conference Centre, Imo Newspaper Complex, Complex of Imo House of Assembly, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, etc, are all in Owerri zone. While Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Orlu International Market, College of Health, Amaigbo, school Of Nursing Science Nwangele LGA, Police Secondary School, Nwangele, Imo Teaching Hospital, Orlu etc, are all in Orlu zone. Which one does Okigwe zone boasts of despite our brother, Ohakim being governor for four years? He never exhibited any zonal biases. That is an indication that Ohakim was after the overall good of Imo state, not just Okigwe zone.
The issue of Owerri youths wanting Imo governorship position in 2015 on the premise of charter of equity in order to correct the imbalance in the state, does not arise. In fact, it does not hold water. It is Okigwe zone that truly and realistically needs the position in order to be at pair with her two sister zones in the state.
In conclusion, the “Coalition of All Owerri youth Associations” misfired in their quest to produce an Imo governor of Owerri zone extraction. In all fairness and equity, Okigwe zone where I come from is the most marginalized zone in the state, both in the political structure of state and in terms of even development. All the federal and state government presences are Owerri and Orlu zones, mostly in Owerri zone with Okigwe zone left with nothing.
To remedy the error that was committed in 2011 by the people of Owerri zone, they should support the people of Okigwe zone to complete its remaining one more tenure. Owerri zone must as matter of expedience and in the best interest of democracy and justice support the people of Okigwe zone to serve out its tenure from 2015 to 2019, when Owerri zone will have an eight yea uninterrupted rule in Imo government house, from 2019 to 2027. Presently, Okigwe zone has five governorship aspirants, any of them should be supported by our brothers from Owerri zone to complete Okigwe zone remaining one more tenure in the best interest of Imo charter of equity. To my follow youths from Owerri zone, he that goes to the equity must go with clean hands.
