A former Federal lawmaker, Hon. Chukwudi Mayor Eze has dumped his governorship ambition to support the agitation by Owerri zone to produce the next governor of Imo State in 2019.
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Owerri zone has been agitating for Imo governorship seat having failed to produce a State Governor since the advent of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. Two sister geo political zones in the State, Orlu and Okigwe zones had dominated the political landscape of Imo producing the State Governor thrice.
Achike Udenwa( Orlu Zone) who governed the State from 1999- 2007 and Ikedi Ohakim (Okigwe zone) who was governor from 2007-2011.
Governor Rochas Okorocha is from Orlu zone.
Mayor Eze who represented Orlu, Orsu and Oru East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives told newsmen in Owerri that he decided to quit the guber race and rejoin the contest for the House of Reps seat on the basis that he wants to back Owerri zone for the 2019 governorship contest.
He said“We cannot be talking of marginalization of Igbos in Nigeria, when we are locally marginalizing ourselves. An Orlu man or woman gunning to be Governor of Imo State now is wrong. Being an Orlu man, considering the fact that Chief Achike Udenwa, an illustrious Son of Orlu ruled the State from 1999-2007 and handed over to Okigwe person-Chief Ikedi Ohakim, 2007-2011 who inadvertently handed over to another Orlu Son-Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who has been on the saddle since May 29th, 2011 and his regime is expected to end on May 29th, 2019.
“It will be against natural justice for him as an orlu man to vie for governorship in the forthcoming political dispensation in the State. We cannot be criticizing the Hausa/Fulani political class for dominating power in Nigeria, when we from Orlu senatorial Zone is taking advantages of our population and number of local governments to perpetrate in power against the interest of the other senatorial zones.
“Honestly, of all those campaigning to be governor of Imo State, I am the most qualified, apart from the zoning issue. I am one of the best to rule Imo State, first, having been an elected Councilor, PDP State official, chairman of ALGON, a member of the National Assembly and a foundation member of PDP. So I have little to learn as a governor, but common sense must prevail. You see Owerri and Okigwe people are now talking of the need for one united front” he stated