By hector obinna
Who-is-who in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from Owerri zone, Imo state, on Sunday stormed the Ihitte-Uboma country home of Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu to inform the people of Okigwe zone that Owerri zone should be supported to produce the next Governor of Imo in 2015, based on zoning formula, otherwise called Charter of Equity.
Leading the Owerri people to the august visit were Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief ID Nwoga, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu and Dr Mrs Kema Chikwe.
Explaining Owerri mission to Okigwe people, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanya said that the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has zoning in its constitution, which he said has been in play in Imo since 1999, which produced Chief Achike Udenwa (Orlu) and Chief Ikedi Ohakim (Okigwe) as Governors.
Chief Iwuanyanwu, member Board of trustees of the PDP said Orlu people have been sworn in three times as Governor of Imo state (Udenwa and Okorocha) including Okigwe three times, (Mbakwe and Ohakim).
He therefore wondered why the goal post should be shifted now, simply because it is the turn of Owerri to produce the next Governorof Imo state.
He said in 2007, Owerri zone supported Okigwe including in 2011, adding that while Owerri came second Orlu came last, and therefore very erroneous for any body to say that Owerri did not support Okigwe in 2011.
Speaking on behalf Owerri too were Chief ID Nwoga, Chief Ambrose Ejiogu and Dr (Mrs) Kema Chikwe who all agreed with Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu that Owerri has been patient and understanding enough with other zones since inception of the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria.
Responding on behalf of Okigwe people, Chief Fidelis Ozichukwu said that he concurred with the last speakers that PDP has zoning, but only that it was thwarted in 2011 as Okigwe zone could not be allowed to complete its turn, adding that it would be good to allow Okigwe to complete her turn in 2015 and hand over to Owerri in 2019.
Speaking also onbehalf of Okigwe was Chief Chris Okewulonu who said Owerri did well in visiting Okigwe for consultation and asked that Okigwe be given time to think over the request.
Present include Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Chief ID Nwoga, Mrs Kema Chikwe, Senator Nwagwu, Nze Ozichukwu, Engr Ebere Udeagu, Prof Jude Njoku, Bar Ken Njemanze, General Rowland Ogbonna (rtd), Chief Athan Achonu, Chief Chris Asoluka, Chief Regis Uwakwe, Bar Vin Okpaleke, Chief Uzowuru, Sir Emma Ohakim, Hon Levi Oguike, Arch Amugo Ugorji, Hon Henry Ekpe, Hon Maxwell Duru, Dr Kelechi Okpaleke, Bar Ike Ibe, Bar Charles Onyeagbako, Hon Oliver Enwerenem, Hon Simeon Iwunze, Dr Dan Okehi, Engr Emeka Ekwebelem, Bar Chris Okewulonu, Hon Henry Onwukwe, Bar Enyinna Onuegbu, Chief MC Ugorji, Hon Innocent Ekenma, Hon Isaac Anyim and others from both Owerri and Okigwe zones.
Meanwhile Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria PDP Governorship aspirant Barrister Humphrey Anumudu has said that his aspiration for the governorship position in 2015 is irreversible.
A statement from Barrister Anumudu’s campaign headquarters in Owerri said that despite the fact that Anumudu remains the most credible of the aspirants to the office, that 2015 Imo state Governorship is sacrosanct to Owerri zone.
The statement explained that granted the fact that the people of Imo state believe in fair play, equity, good conscience and justice, that the much talked about “Imo Charter of Equity” revolves around Barrister Anumudu as justified in 1998.
According to the group, “If Barrister Anumudu ever laid that foundation of PDP in Imo state by paying for its first office and sacrificing his ticket in the interest of the party, good conscience and fair play justifies his presentation as the consensus candidate for the 2015 governorship”.
Continuing the statement averred, “Since that denial of PDP ticket to Barrister Anumudu in 1998, the party has not won any governorship election in the state after two term tenure of Chief Achike Udenwa”.
Explaining further the statement says, “After the tenure of Chief Achike Udenwa, he handed over to Chief Ikedi Ohakim of the progressive Peoples Alliance PPA who tried to run under PDP for his second tenure but lost to Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA”
Pointing out that, “when such things happen, people should seat back and ponder awhile over them because they are meant to teach us some lessons. We strongly believe that the best option for PDP is to percify Barrister Anumudu now that the ticket has returned to Owerri zone”.
Arguing that the claim by Okigwe zone for a completion of Chief Ohakim’s tenure is weak since the former Governor’s second term was rubbished by his Okigwe kinsmen in 2011.
The statement advised both Imo PDP and the good people of Imo state to shun greed and insatiable political ambition in their choice for a credible candidate that can win both its primaries and the election proper in 2015.
