LEST WE FORGET – By Speedwell Emeka Onyewuotu.

In 1999, Chief I.D Nwoga was the Chairman of PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was a revered leader of the party, Chief Evan Enwerem, Chief Martin Agbaso , Dr Kema Chikwe, and the likes all the big weights of Imo Politics then were all in PDP. In fact the strength of Imo Politics then was Owerri zone.

They had power then to decide to take the 1999 Governorship ticket to their zone, but no, they didn’t. Because then Chief Mbakwe from Okigwe zone, has ruled the state for 4 years and 3 months, and Chief Evan Enwerem, from Owerri zone, just left office , even though he ruled for 1 years and 10 months. They sat down and in all good conscience calculated that nobody from Orlu zone has had a taste of the Governorship seat. They decided that the seat will go to Orlu zone and after which Owerri zone will take and Okigwe zone. That was what gave rise to Imo Charter of Equity.

In 1999, nobody from Owerri zone contested Imo Guber. In PDP, it was the likes of Rochas, Mbadiwe and Udenwa all from Orlu Zone. AP brought Engr. Ezekiel Izuogu also from Orlu zone.

After Udenwa’s tenure, an Owerri man, Chief Martin Agbaso was elected Governor according to 80% of the votes cast in April 14th 2007 election, Okigwe zone used their contacts, With Chief Maurice Iwu as INEC Chairman, they used their weight at INEC, to cancel the election and ensured that an Okigwe man was elected. That was what gave rise to Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s government in 2007.
It was a very sad event for Owerri zone. Okigwe zone didn’t do much to pacify that anger. In 2011, that anger gave birth to an unfortunate Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha. Lest we forget, that’s how we got here.

To move forward, the rest of the zones have to in all fairness reciprocate the magnanimity of Owerri zone. And use the coming 2019 election to heal all wounds and return our state to the part of progress and equity.

Make no mistake about it, Owerri zone is not making this demand from the point of weakness, those who think so, may have forgotten that you can’t be Governor in Imo if you don’t win Mbaitoli, Ngor Okpala, Mbaise Block and Owerri North. Orlu zone may have more LGA; Owerri zone still has the largest number of registered voters.

I believe in capacity, I believe in the best candidate with capacity leading, I believe that all zones have such people, Not only that, I also believe in Equity, justice and fairness.