Elder Statesman and political sage, Chief Innocent Nwoga has made it clear that if not for Owerri zone, Orlu zone would not have won Imo State Governorship seat, talkless of occupying that position now for sixteen years in the history of Imo State.
Chief Nwoga spoke during the Convention held by Owerri zone to adopt a sole Governorship candidate for the purpose of winning the 2019 Governorship election.
The former Minister for Establishment disclosed that because of what Owerri people did for Orlu in 1999, it behoves that Orlu zone ought to pay back Owerri zone, by making sure that Owerri zone produced a Governor in his life time.
The former Secretary to Imo State Government SSG, who was among those that adopted Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, at the “Owerri Re-awakening” Convention which held at All Saints cathedral Church play Ground, Egbu on Tuesday, said that he has no regrets that he was one of those that helped in ceding Imo Governorship seat to Orlu zone in 1999, as according to him, the situation at that time demanded for the decision he took with others.
He however said that Orlu zone ought to be at the fore front in reciprocating the deed Owerri extended to them in 1999 over the hotly contested Imo Governorship seat.
It would be recalled that Chief ID Nwoga, who hails from Ekwereazu, in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, was the pioneer Imo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 1999, when the party urged all Governorship Aspirants to step down for Orlu zone to have a shot at the Big position.
Before then, Okigwe zone under Chief Sam Mbakwe had ruled Imo State for four years and three months. Owerri also had manned the office through Senator Evan Enwerem, who occupied the position for Eighteen months.
Therefore, when the issue of Imo Civilian Governor was opened in 1999 when Democracy returned to Nigeria, after the Military had gone back the Barracks, the arguments was that Orlu which had not tasted the position before should produce the next Imo State Governor.
However, during the PDP Governorship primaries a son of Owerri zone, Bar Humphrey Anumudu from Obilubi, Mbeiri, in Mbaitoli LGA came tops, but was asked by Owerri Elders, including their State PDP chairman, Chief ID Nwoga to step down for Chief Achike Udenwa from Orlu zone, who came a distance 4th in the primaries.
But since that patriotic act by Nwoga and Co to allow their Orlu cousins to mount the saddle, Orlu has since occupied the seat for Sixteen years, and Okigwe zone Eight years.
Therefore, the “Egbu Convention” afforded Chief ID Nwoga to go back memory lane to remember what Owerri people did for Orlu in 1999.
He however commended “Orlu Elders Council” led by Prof Frances Dike for saying that no Orlu person, no matter the political party, should vie for the position of Imo Governor in 2019, until Owerri zone produces a Governor in Imo State for Justice and Equity sake.
