The intensity of the governorship contest in Imo State, South East Nigeria, is becoming fierce as political stakeholders in Owerri and Okigwe zones close ranks in a bid to wrestle power from Orlu Zone.
Imo State is divided into three geo political zones namely Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu .
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha comes from Orlu Zone, an area which has held on to power of the State for 9 years plus since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria. Okorocha 's kinsman, Achike Udenwa ruled the State for eight uninterrupted years between 1999-2007 when the military handed over reins of governance of Nigeria to Civilian rule.
Owerri zone had its turn of a meagre 22 months under late Chief Evan Enwerem who was removed from office on November 17, 1993 by military jackboots led by Nigeria's military strongman, Late General Sani Abacha. Abacha' s junta ran a diarchial system of government in Nigeria which had civilian governors at the States with the military at the centre.
Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone was also elected governor of the State in 2007. His tenure was also cut short after he lost to Rochas Okorocha from Orlu Zone in the 2011 general elections.
Okorocha's emergence as governor of the State distorted the concept of rotating the office of the Executive Governor in the State among the three zones in the State. There is an existing, though unwritten agreement between the three zones in Imo State to rotate the office of the Executive Governor.
Thisdevelopment has prompted Leaders of Owerri Zone under the auspices of Owerri Zone Political Leadership Forum (0ZOPOLF). OZOPOLF is a congregation of political stakeholders in Owerri Zone led by billionaire oil magnate, Charles Amadi. The group says its objective is to ensure Owerri Zone produces Rochas Okorocha's sucessor in 2015.
In what looked like a strategic alliance to project the interest of the zone and to demonstrate its seriousness towards the project, OZOPOLF extended a hand of partnership to Okigwe Zone, urging the sister zone to support its quest to balance the political imbalance as it affects the rotation of the office of the Governor .
Speaking at the parley with leaders of Okigwe zone who go by the name, Olu Okigwe,, Amadi said Owerri zone is the weeping child in the Imo family, lamenting that the power inbalance in the State should be addressed in the spirit of fairplay and justice.
'An Owerri man or Woman must be governor of Imo State. The Imo Charter of Equity And Justice must be addressed he told a tumultuous crowd that graced the parley .
The parley ended without a concrete agreement between the two zones as political pundits wonder if the strategic alliance by both zones is a mere window dressing exercise that will stand the test of time.
But a source close to the political groups told this blog that the parley is a sign of good things to come. 'This is the first stage of our discussion. we are on one page. with time, we shall get there' the source declared.
Owerri zone boasts of nine local Governments, followed by Orlu Zone with 12. Okigwe has the least with 6. Political observers who spoke to this blog on the issue said the demand of the people of Owerri Zone is in order.
Chief Jasper Ohiri, a former local Council legislator and a chieftain of OZOPOLF told this blog that the zone is poised more than before to actualize the dream of producing the next governor of Imo State, but he cautioned that it will not come on a platter of gold
'We must fight for it. Political power is not given but taken, therefore Owerri zone must not limit its quest by assuming that the governorhsip seat of Imo State will come to it on a platter of gold' he stated
With the governorship election in the State to hold in 2015, notable politicians of Owerri zone extraction are said to be warming to contest the governorship seat against incumbent Governor Okorocha.
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| Okorocha.... His Zone has ruled Imo For 9years plus |
Imo State is divided into three geo political zones namely Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu .
 |
| Ohakim..lost second term bid. His Okigwe zone has done 8 years |
Owerri zone had its turn of a meagre 22 months under late Chief Evan Enwerem who was removed from office on November 17, 1993 by military jackboots led by Nigeria's military strongman, Late General Sani Abacha. Abacha' s junta ran a diarchial system of government in Nigeria which had civilian governors at the States with the military at the centre.
 |
| Late Enwerem..... His Administration cut short by the military, his Owerri zone has governed Imo for 22months |
Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe zone was also elected governor of the State in 2007. His tenure was also cut short after he lost to Rochas Okorocha from Orlu Zone in the 2011 general elections.
 |
| Udenwa....Had 8 uninterrupted Years for Orlu Zone |
Thisdevelopment has prompted Leaders of Owerri Zone under the auspices of Owerri Zone Political Leadership Forum (0ZOPOLF). OZOPOLF is a congregation of political stakeholders in Owerri Zone led by billionaire oil magnate, Charles Amadi. The group says its objective is to ensure Owerri Zone produces Rochas Okorocha's sucessor in 2015.
In what looked like a strategic alliance to project the interest of the zone and to demonstrate its seriousness towards the project, OZOPOLF extended a hand of partnership to Okigwe Zone, urging the sister zone to support its quest to balance the political imbalance as it affects the rotation of the office of the Governor .
Speaking at the parley with leaders of Okigwe zone who go by the name, Olu Okigwe,, Amadi said Owerri zone is the weeping child in the Imo family, lamenting that the power inbalance in the State should be addressed in the spirit of fairplay and justice.
'An Owerri man or Woman must be governor of Imo State. The Imo Charter of Equity And Justice must be addressed he told a tumultuous crowd that graced the parley .
The parley ended without a concrete agreement between the two zones as political pundits wonder if the strategic alliance by both zones is a mere window dressing exercise that will stand the test of time.
But a source close to the political groups told this blog that the parley is a sign of good things to come. 'This is the first stage of our discussion. we are on one page. with time, we shall get there' the source declared.
Owerri zone boasts of nine local Governments, followed by Orlu Zone with 12. Okigwe has the least with 6. Political observers who spoke to this blog on the issue said the demand of the people of Owerri Zone is in order.
Chief Jasper Ohiri, a former local Council legislator and a chieftain of OZOPOLF told this blog that the zone is poised more than before to actualize the dream of producing the next governor of Imo State, but he cautioned that it will not come on a platter of gold
'We must fight for it. Political power is not given but taken, therefore Owerri zone must not limit its quest by assuming that the governorhsip seat of Imo State will come to it on a platter of gold' he stated
With the governorship election in the State to hold in 2015, notable politicians of Owerri zone extraction are said to be warming to contest the governorship seat against incumbent Governor Okorocha.
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