By Tony Icheku 


The movers and shakers in Imo East(Owerri) Senatorial District in an  dash for 2027  Imo State governorship  rising from a stakeholders meeting are  insisting that the  ticket be zoned to the zone as it is one of the two senatorial zones in the country's 109 senatorial districts yet to occupy the exalted position of governor since the dawn of the fourth Republic in 1999.


Present at the meeting held middle of February at the home of Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho, former Minister of Interior, to deliberate on the issue of rotation of Imo governorship includes various leaders of thought, political leaders comprising former elected and appointed political office holders, businessmen, academicians, religious leader, leaders of civil society organisations and several others 


The meeting whose  sole agenda was   Charter Of Equity focused on determining reasons why  the  governorship must be zoned to Owerri zone had earlier been held with other leaders from the zone in Abuja and Lagos, culminating in the Owerri gathering.


Rising from the meeting, the leaders in a communique,  submitted that since the return of democracy in 1999, no indigene of Owerri zone has served a full term of four years as governor of Imo State; whereas  the Orlu senatorial zone has produced three governors since 1999 in the persons of Chief Achike Udenwa, (1999-2007) 8years;  Senator Rochas Okorocha, (2011-2019) 8years;  and the incumbent governor Senator Hope Uzodinma, (2020-2024 & 2024 - expected 2028) 8 years expected; with the Okigwe Senatorial zone having a shot at the position through Chief Ikedi Ohakim, (2007-11) 4 years.


The stakeholders who reminded the State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma of  his declaration of support for the Imo Charter of Equity with which he campaigned for and was returned for a second term  urged him to remain steadfast in his unwavering commitment to the success of the Charter of Equity and his avowed determination to hand over the reins of Imo governorship to an Owerri indigene.


According to them, following the nullification of Hon Emeka Ihedioha's governorship after seven months in office, the ends of equity, justice and fairness would demand that the governorship position be ceded to Owerri zone as a way of fostering inclusive politics , brotherhood and harmonious co-existence in the State


The stakeholders appealed for collaboration and cooperation  from other senatorial zones in supporting the enthronement of the Charter of Equity starting from Owerri zone in 2027 and further resolved to embark on a massive and invasive mobilisation of Imo indigenes at home and abroad and   across all political parties.


Some of the attendees at these meetings include the following sons and daughters of Owerri zone:  Amb (Dr) Mrs kema Chikwe, former Minister of Transport and  Aviation and former Ambassador to Ireland & Iceland;  Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, businessman ; Chief Victor Murakor, Chairman,  Fiscal Responsibility Commission;  Chief Chris Asoluka, a former President of Aka Ikenga, the foremost Igbo Think Tank; Mr. Frank Nneji, founder ABC Transport plc; Dr Sam Amadi, former Executive Vice-Chairman NERC; Mr Ken Orji , Investment banker; Mr. Nick Opara-Ndudu, a former Bank Executive and financial consultant;  Barr PGU Madu, Corporate law practitioner and technocrat ; Dr Emeka Osuji,former Bank Executive and lecturer at the Pan African University Lagos; Barrister George Eke, lawyer and businessman; and Dame Comfort Obi , publisher of Source magazine.


Others present include Barr Obinna Igwe-Ajoku SAN;   Barr Ndukwe Nnawuchi SAN;  Dr( Mrs) Julie Onyeukwu, Chairperson, Imo State Civil Service Commission; Sir Chimdi Ejiogu , former Chairman Governing Council Federal Poly Afikpo; and Chief Willie Amadi , former Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission and Coordinator, Owerri People's Consultative Assembly, (OPOCA);  Rev. Father(Dr) Gerald Njoku of Owerri Arch Diocese Catholic communion; Ven Obioma Chikeka of the Egbu Diocese, Anglican communion;  Apostle Charles Chieke of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim amongst several other dignitaries from Owerri zone.