The Owerri Awareness Coalition, OAC, a socio- political group have expressed worry over the reluctance and absence of governorship aspirants from Owerri Zone for the 2019 governorship contest in Imo State.
The group in a statement emailed to this newspaper Wednesday evening and signed by John Anyanwu ( Chairman), Micheal Njemanze (Secretary) and Grace Igwe ( Publicity Secretary) said they are concerned that Owerri zone has not backed up its clamour for an Imo State governor of Owerri zone extraction in 2019 judging from the reluctance of its qualified sons and daughters to join the contest.
The group “ We are disturbed that despite the encouraging dispositions of some individuals from the zone who have notified the people of the state on the need to allow Owerri zone to produce the next Imo State Governor, we are surprised that no one from Owerri zone has indicated interest in the contest at the moment”
“Though we understand that 2019 election is 18 months from now, we feel that the zone should have shown some determination, commitment and seriousness to achieve its cause by encouraging intending aspirants who have the leadership qualities to become governor to declare their ambition.
“ Body languages and political foot dragging as we have noticed from some of these intending aspirants from the zone is not enough signal to believe that Owerri zone really want to take a shot at the contest in 2019.
“Okigwe and Orlu Zones have already stepped into the ring as we have seen Hon Chukwudi Mayor Eze from Orlu indicating his interest and Sir Ike Ibe from Okigwe zone declaring his ambition to contest.
“ It is worrisome that we have not seen none from Owerri zone and this does not in any way help our cause. It is strange that Owerri zone in the last dispensation had more than 30 governorship aspirants from more than five political parties and now that we expected them to take what rightfully belongs to them, no one has shown up to contest”
“ We express worry over this development. We therefore call on qualified persons from the zone to declare their ambition as we pledge to support any of them that we consider qualified for the plum job”
” We will be forced to issue an ultimatum to those who want to contest to do so if they fail to heed our advice” the statement concluded.
