I was on a private movement in New Owerri, around Concord-All Seasons Hotel Road, in the state capital, in the early hours of Saturday, July 11, 2013, when I noticed unusual combat-ready looking policemen with armoured tanks stationed around the area.
Initially, I was frightened and seriously taken aback by the presence of fierce looking security men, wondering if there was security threat within that area to warrant police presence. My anxiety was however relaxed when a deeper thought informed my senses that Imo Stakeholders Forum would be holding its Maiden Imo Political Summit that day. I had listened to the paid announcements on air waves and sited advertorials on newspapers inviting the general public to the 2013 event.
When I picked my pen to start commentaries on political permutations ahead 2015 elections, one of the initial topics that attracted my attention which I gave enormous mention is the issue of Charter of Equity. The issue was the focal point of the Maiden Political Summit held at All Season Plaza. In my analysis on the growing clamour for Owerri Zone to produce Imo State Governor come 2015, I did mention that the Owerri Zone desire could be another feeble effort since Imo state has no written or unwritten constitution on charter of equity and no electoral law directs voters on voting methods based on zonal interest. I went further to state that zoning has never being applied in the state’s gubernatorial race, adding that it has always been a free-for-all contest in the past. I further suggested that for fair play and equity to be considered in the realization of the Charter of Equity, the protagonists should go beyond mere rhetoric by engaging in political summit for all stakeholders where related issues pertaining to zoning shall be handled.
The Maiden Political Summit may have been in line with my earlier posturing that such debate by stakeholders can only provide the necessary platform for the emergence of a governor of the state from Owerri zone extraction.
From the tones of the stakeholders, it was eventful that the forum was organized to not only expose the inadequacies but showcase that danger lies ahead for the emergence of Owerri person as governor.
A cursory review of the exercise shows that the Summit may not lead Nde Owerre Zone to the expected El Dorado in their desire to achieve gubernatorial dreams. While I thumb up for the conveners and organizers for the novel idea and maiden outing, it is pertinent to note that noticeable flaws observed in last Saturday’s event are culpable of denying Owerri Zone the deserved opportunity of producing Governor in 2015.
For lack of space, the write-up continues next week.
