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By Henry Ekpe(08036695810)
Imo Guber 2028: Where are the Aspirants?(1)
The election to produce the next Governor of Imo State,to succeed the incumbent Senator Hope Uzodinma, will be in 2027 around November or December
And the handover and Swearing in will be in January 2028.
Many observers still think it is too far away.But it is not.
To execute a project of magnitude like that of Governorship takes a lot of time, planning and heavy funds.
One American President said that three things are needed in Politics.
One,Money, two Money and three Money.
Even though Nigerian Democracy is yet to develop to the the leve of America, but the money theory also applies here in Nigeria.
Therefore this brings us to the question: where are the Aspirants warming up to take over from Gov Uzodimma come January 2028?
The Political atmosphere in Imo today is still very quiet and dull because of the Governorship election which fell out from the Election calendar that is coming up early January.
However, apart from this development the Imo Massess ought to by now started feeling the “sounds” from the Governorship hopefuls.
Unfortunately, apart from Opposition Political Parties whose Aspirants(Emeka Ihedioha, Samuel Anyanwu,and Chima Amadi)are bold enough to speak up,the ruling party in the State which ought to set the pace rolling completely silent and docile in this case.
Even at that,the section of the State which the Governor had promised his successor,through what he described as Charter of Equity, is scared and mum to make a noise about the Governorship seat.
According to News and rumors coming from APC Camp,it is said that Governor Uzodimma has agreed to hand over power to Owerri Zone in 2028.
This was arrived at following the Marginalization of Owerri in the matter.
While Orlu has tenacious clung to position via Udenwa(8years) Okorocha(8years) and Uzodimma(6 years and counting) Okigwe has done 4 years via Ohakim,and Owerri 7months under the Ihedioha short-lived era.
But ironically, the echo of becoming Governor under All Progressive Congress,APC in 2028 is only coming from Orlu and Okigwe Zones who were not promised the Slot by the APC Charter of Equity arrangement.
Instead former Governor Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe Zone and Chief Charles Orie from Orlu Zone are the people in APC dominating the air waves with their ambitions.
If not for them and the likes of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha,Senator Anyanwu and Dr Chima Amadi,Imo political environment is comatose.
Now,you ask: why is it that under Imo APC only Okigwe and Orlu are out and shooting and shouting, while Owerri is quiet,undecided and waiting?
There is no where in the world Power is served you an platter. You work for it.
Even our our President Bola Tinubu said if you have the opportunity “Grab and run with it”.
Ohakim and Orie have kept the Imo APC Political System vibrating with their activities and constant Media presence non stop.
This would have gulped them millions of Naira already, while those of Owerri descents are still watching and furtively looking over their heads as if the owe any one their Political freedom.
Now,assuming in the event Uzodimma and Imo APC decide to hand over Power to Owerri Zone,what do they tell Ohakim and Orie after spending this huge?
Won’t they be Compensated?
And would that be?
Will they agree empty hands and go home free.
This is Politics, where six can be twelve!
And another serious observation is that both Ohakim and Orie are very close Friends of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Did they ever consult him before embarking on their Governorship journey?
If they did,what did the Governor tell them that made them continue?
What emboldened them to continue their vibrant projects these past months, while their Owerri Cousins kept waiting for Godot?
The people of Owerri were doused with this same story of Charter of Equity during the last Governorship election in 2024 and they stood behind Uzodimma and jettisoned their brothers and Sisters who ran under other Political Platforms.
Uzodimma has continued using that strategy to keep Owerri Zone APC quiet as each of the Owerri APC believes he may be the anointed one.
For not “hurting” Uzodimma the remaining quiet while Orlu and Okigwe move one.
But Politics is not played that way.
In Politics, if you don’t ssy Iam here,no body will see you there.
If Owerri APC Governorship hopefuls think they can act “Good Boys” and assumed Uzodimma will hand you the Office, it is complete Lie.
Even when former Governor Rochas Okorocha plotted to hand over power to his Son Inlaw, Uche Nwosu,the Man still set up his own structure,Ugwu Mba Movement outside the core structure of Okorocha and APC and later Action Alliance AA.
Uzodinma has his own structure called “Camp Hope” which is still intact and would be used to execute his Senatorial election in January.
Are the Owerri APC Aspirants believing that Uzodimma will lend them his “Camp Hope” Structure ro deliver them in theirLGAs in Owerri Zone?
A future Governor should not be a puppet to extent of waiting for direction, directive and fund from another structure.
You must begin first
It means when such fellow is foisted into Office he cannot wake up without calling his predecessor every morning.
It is said from APC sources that many Aspirants are coming out from Owerri Zone but still waiting for Signal from Governor Uzodimma.
They are many, though have not publicly declared their ambitions except one Chief Reginald Amadi.
Those said to be waiting until go ahead include:Chief Dr Henry Njoku(Harritex) Macdonald Ebere PhD,Chief Jerry Chukwueke,Sir Jude Ejiogu, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Hon Ikenna Elezieanya,Chief Akagburuonye,Chief Amuchie and Hon Alex Emeziem.
Apart from Elezieany,Ebere and Emeziem, the rest are from Owerri North LGA.
Next edition we deal with Aspirants from Owerri ,Zone who have no Godfathers but are their own Godfathers and not waiting for any anointing from any source.
They are His Excellency,Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha(Africa Democratic Congress,ADC)
Senator Samuel Anyanwu(Peoples Democratic Party,PDP)
Chief Martin Agbaso (National Democratic Congress, NDC)
Dr Sam Amadi(National Democratic Congress, NDC) and
Dr Chima Amadi(Alliance Peoples Party,APP).
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