BY INNOCENT ONYEUKWU
I have enormous respect for elders. The grey hair does not come cheap and easily. That is why we must rever the elderly. I was told that elders are like saints, with fountain of wisdom and vast reservoir of knowledge, who will never compromise the truth for anything. But when they do deviate, or fall short of expectation, become lame ducks, twist the truth for fallacy, then there is fire on the mountain.
The planned Reception for Governor Hope Uzodinma by some stakeholders and elders in the All Progressive Congress, APC, Owerri zone, has generated fuss and confusion lately. Reports say there are skirmishes among organizers of the reception. And why should a reception for a State Governor, lead to such face off between stakeholders and elders in the zone? I can only wonder.
The internal wrangling in Owerri zone APC, stem from the fact that some of the stakeholders and elders are opposed to Charles Amadi from heading the Reception Committee for the Governor. Their take is simple. Amadi, now pro Uzodinma, was an ally of Uche Nwosu, former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s son in law and the 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA.
Their sentiment and grouse is understood. Those who aided Uzodinma during his gruesome battle to become Imo State Governor are yet to enjoy the goodies of power, let alone a gatecrasher, who wined and dined with Uzodinma’s foes! That’s their argument, I believe.
I have no interest on who holds or chairs the Reception for the Governor in Owerri zone. The scramble for who heads or leads the Reception Committee for the Governor, is a mere political stunt. It’s eye service. Those tumbling themselves over the issue want to be noticed. And they want Uzodinma to take note of them. This is the bitter truth. That is the brand of politics we see in Imo. Eye service, deceit and notice me!
Whoever heads the Reception Committee for Owerri zone APC for the Governor is a non issue. There is even conspiracy of silence on what the Reception is all about. What are the purposes and intents? I have not heard what Owerri zone APC leaders or elders intend to tell the Governor when the reception is eventually held for him.
Owerri zone is plagued by many issues. Many things are troubling the zone. I had expected APC leaders in the zone, to by now, unveil the problems of the zone, and come up with a position of what they want Uzodinma to do for the zone. The problem of Owerri zone is not bread and butter. Or some group of persons seeking for notice and cheap relevance.
Owerri zone is the weeping child of the Imo political family. And every concerned, full blooded Owerri zone son and daughter, should be worried why the zone has continuously paraded the begging bowl.
Owerri zone do have every reason to weep. The zone boasts of nothing. It has suffered marginalization and has been kept far away from the levers of power in the State. And whenever it is holding the “ofor” of the State (governorship), it is taken away from them either by force or by accident.
From 1992 till date, the zone had produced the Governor of the State twice for a total period of 29 months. That is if you add up the late Evan Enwerem’s 22 months in office and Emeka Ihedioha’s 7 months, as Governor.
Orlu zone has had more than enough of the pie. Udenwa governed the state for eight years, Okorocha reigned for eight years, and Uzodinma, expectedly will do another eight years. A total of 24 years for Orlu zone, and a meager 29 months for Owerri zone! Should Owerri zone be cheerful about this anomaly, this man’s inhumanity to man?.
The organizers of the Reception for Uzodinma, should tell him, to hand over to Owerri zone when he completes his tenure. If such demand will be a major reason for the Reception, then they should expedite it. The Red carpet event should serve as a basis to negotiate for power. 2024 is already lurking around; it is not too early to tell Uzodinma to look in the direction of the zone whenever he wants to leave office. He can find worthy and trusted allies in the zone. They are in abundance. Credible men and women.
Uzodinma knows that the pillar of support for his administration comes from Owerri zone. A zone, which has suffered marginalization, schemed out of power alchemy of the State for a long period deserves to have a better deal. Now is the time to hit the nail on the head. This is not the time to dance on the grave.
“The organizers of the Reception for Uzodinma, should tell him, to hand over to Owerri zone when he completes his tenure. If such demand will be a major reason for the Reception, then they should expedite it. The Red carpet event should serve as a basis to negotiate for power”
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