As the race to 2028 silently begins to gather momentum in Imo State, an alarming pattern is rearing its head, the very pattern that has held Nigeria hostage for decades: a parade of unqualified, opportunistic, and self-serving individuals scrambling for power, not to lead, but to loot.
Imo State, like most Nigerian states, is once again at risk of falling into the hands of those whose sole ambition is to control the monthly federal allocations running into billions of naira, with zero vision, no blueprint for development, and no track record of public service.
From touts to sycophants, from political errand boys to over-promoted aides, the field is being flooded with characters who wouldn’t pass a basic leadership vetting in serious societies.
It’s time we told ourselves the truth:
Imo is tired of mediocrity. Imo is tired of experiments. Imo is tired of recycled stooges.
The Governor’s Biggest Test
Governor Hope Uzodimma, who by 2027 would have served two terms, has a unique responsibility, not just to complete his tenure, but to protect the legacy he leaves behind.
The worst mistake he can ever make is to hand over the reins of Imo State to an inexperienced, unqualified crony or political associate whose only credential is loyalty, not leadership.
He must resist the temptation to impose a “yes man” or a “kitchen cabinet loyalist” who lacks the strength, competence, and broad-based legitimacy to govern a diverse and complex state like Imo.
History will not remember the projects or press statements. It will remember whether he handed over to a stabilizer or a saboteur.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A 75% Chance to Deliver
Based on current political permutations and realignments, Governor Uzodimma has a 75% chance of influencing who becomes his successor. That chance must not be wasted on sentiment or blind loyalty.
It must be used to entrench equity, to finally correct the 24-year injustice against Owerri Zone, and to restore political balance in a state where trust in leadership is waning fast.
Why Owerri Zone Must Take Its Turn
Since 1999:
Orlu Zone has held the governorship for 22 out of 26 years.
Okigwe Zone had a single full term under Ohakim (2007–2011).
Owerri Zone has not had a full term governor in the Fourth Republic.
The Charter of Equity in principle, a principle accepted by all well-meaning Imolites, demands that after Orlu and Okigwe, Owerri Zone should take its turn in 2027.
This isn’t just about zoning.
It is about fairness, healing, and the political stability of our state.
Only political merchants, sycophants and desperate opportunists would argue otherwise.
The National Picture: A Country Drowning in Mediocrity
The Imo scenario is not unique. Across Nigeria, the office of the governor has become a tragic joke, a competition among thugs, illiterates, sycophants, and fraudsters, all aiming to loot, not to lead.
From EFCC reports, at least 16 former governors are under investigation or prosecution for looting state funds, with some accused of stealing over ₦100 billion each.
Performance scorecards tell the rest:
28 of 36 states failed basic infrastructure, health, and education benchmarks (BudgIT 2022).
Over 20 million children are out of school (UBEC 2023).
Security votes of ₦500m to ₦1bn per state monthly remain unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, roads like Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze in Imo collapse within 2 years, and communities are cut off from basic services.
This rot thrives because governors are handpicked by political godfathers, imposed through court judgments, or forced on the people via intimidation and voter suppression.
We must not allow this playbook to continue in Imo State.
A Wake-Up Call for Ndi Imo
As 2028 approaches, Imo must ask:
Are we about to hand over to another stooge?
Are we selecting the next governor based on capacity, or connections?
Will Governor Uzodimma entrench legacy or destroy it?
The people must demand:
- Strict standards for candidates, no more glorified aides or clout chasers.
- Mandatory public debates to assess ideas and intellect, not godfathers.
- Full implementation of equity, Owerri must take its turn.
- Rejection of money politics, the vote is not for sale.
Ultimately: The Crossroads of 2028
Imo cannot afford another mistake.
The future of millions of people cannot be traded for party loyalty, stomach infrastructure, or selfish ambitions.
Governor Uzodimma still has the chance to write his name in gold, but only if he hands over to a qualified, capable, and broadly accepted candidate, in the spirit of equity.
That candidate, by all standards of justice and balance, must come from Owerri Zone.
Imo has bled enough.
Now is the time for justice. Now is the time for restoration. Now is the time to choose leadership, not loyalty.
Ndi Imo, the choice is yours. But history will record where we stood.
By Hon. Chima Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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