…As group wants candidates from Orlu, Okigwe zones to step down
As Imo State gets set to conduct the November 11, 2023 governorship election, a group – Owerri Peoples Front, OPF, has declared that it is the turn of Owerri Zone to produce the next governor of the state.
Addressing journalists in Owerri on Friday, Convener of OPF, Hon Chukwuemeka Ebere (ABJ) said the group is worried about how Owerri zone had been shortchanged in the Governorship of the state.
“Since the return of democracy in the country in 1999, Owerri zone has only occupied the governorship seat of Imo State for seven months.
“Since 1999, Orlu zone has occupied the seat of power in Imo State for 20years, Okigwe zone had produced a governor for four years.
“With this development, OPF asks, where is the equity? Where is the fair play? Has Imo State become the sole property of Orlu Zone?
“It is unthinkable that other governorship candidates from other zones are also seeking to be governor of the state on November 11, 2023 when Owerri zone has not completed its term.
“This is an aberration and a deliberate plot to make Owerri zone the political slaves of Imo State.
“Owerri Zone cannot continue to be the weeping child of the Imo political family. We cannot continue to be marginalized in a state where we are a major and key component”, the Convener stated.
The group said it cannot sit by and watch the zone shortchanged again, adding that soon the Egbu Declaration on Imo governorship will take place.
OPF insisted that the original Imo Charter of Equity should be reactivated, stating that the Charter was truncated in 2019 when Owerri zone son, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha was removed from office by the Supreme Court.
The group insisted that Owerri zone should be allowed to produce the next governor of the state in November 11, explaining that it “will ensure balance, equity and fairness in the Imo Charter of Equity”.
OPF called on “governorship candidates from Orlu and Okigwe zones to withdraw from the contest and support their counterparts from Owerri zone in the forthcoming governorship election in the state” .
Continuing, Hon Ebere disclosed that OPF would conduct an Opinion Poll on all governorship candidates from Owerri zone, which would determine who among them would be most acceptable to the people and Imo State.
The group called on the Clergy, freedom fighters, traditional rulers, socio-cultural organizations, president generals of communities in Owerri zone to support a governor of Owerri extraction come November 11.
OPF concluded that in line with the Charter of Equity, Okigwe zone will take its turn after Owerri zone has completed its tenure.
