By Innocent Onyeukwu
Owerri Zone seems to have secured massive support and partnership from leaders of Orlu and Okigwe zone for the realisation of an Owerri Zone governor for the 2015 Imo governorship race.
Converging under the auspices of Owerri Zone Political Leadership Forum (OZOPOLF), a group championing the actualization of an Imo Governor of Owerri zone extraction in 2015, leaders of the zone last Saturday reiterated its desire to ensure the success of the project. It also received strong backing from Orlu and Okigwe zone leaders who pledged their unflinching support to the cause of Owerri people.
Speaking on behalf of Okigwe zone political leaders, one time member of the Imo State House of Assembly and former Political Adviser to former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Chief Jasper Ndubuaku, said Okigwe zone believes in justice and equity and this is among several other factors why Okigwe zone is backing Werra zone to occupy the Imo State seat of government come 2015.
He recalled that the zone has remained marginalized from the power sharing formula in the State, stating that only an Owerri zone governor in 2015 can balance the political equation in the State.
Ndubuaku recalled that since the advent of democracy in Imo State 
in 1999, Okigwe zone leaders approved that Orlu zone should produce the State governor and this was strictly adhered to by Okigwe and other zones. He said Okigwe sons and daughters who wanted to flout the agreement were sanctioned by the leaders.
He added that the same scenario took place in 2007 when it was agreed that Okigwe zone should produce the governor of the State which produced Ikedi Ohakim as governor.
The ex lawmaker regretted that the pattern of zoning the seat of government of the State was truncated in 2011,when some misguided political elements defied the zoning formula which produced another governor from Orlu zone to the detriment of Werra zone. He encouraged Owerri people not to relent in its pursuit for the success of its resolve to produce the next governor ofImoStatein 2015.
Backing Ndubuaku’s support was Chief Don Mgbe, who spoke on behalf of Orlu political leaders. He stressed that Orlu zone is in total support of the quest of Owerrizone to succeed in its quest to occupy Government House in 2015. He maintained that in the spirit of fairness and equity, an Owerri zone son and daughter must give Imo State the next governor.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman and founder of OZOPOLF, Chief Charles Amadi told a mammoth crowd that thronged his palatial home that there is no going
back on the quest of Owerri zone to produce the next governor ofImoState. He said OZOPOLF will never relent in its campaign, adding that the group will continue to propagate its gospel until an Owerri man gets into Government House,
He denied speculations that he is using OZOPOLF as a platform to erect a political structure to either vie for the office of governor or for Owerri Zone senatorial seat, adding that doing so will run contrary to the aims and objectives of the cause of his people.
Amadi noted that Owerri zone has been in political wilderness for a long time, and only theImoStategovernorship seat will bring a sense of belonging to the people.
In his remarks, the State Secretary of Imo PDP, Chief George Eguh shared the aspirations of OZOPOLF, reminding leaders of the group that the PDP remains the only viable vehicle that will convey the people of the people of Owerri zone to the Promised Land.
