With three years to the next governorship election in Imo State, some socio political groups in Owerri zone have taken each other to the cleaners over methodology to win the 2024 guber election.
This development signals imminent cracks among pro Owerri zone for Imo governorship groups, who seem to be pursuing various interests rather than a collective objective- which is to produce the next governor of the State in 2024.
About three groups namely Olu Owerri, the Owerri Zone Development Union, OZDU, and Ala Owerri United Front, AOUF, have held on to divergent views on the zone’s quest to reclaim power in 2024.
Olu Owerri, led by Martin Opara, has consistently drummed the need for Owerri zone to re claim the governorship of the State after Emeka Ihedioha was removed by Supreme Court and replaced with Governor Hope Uzodimma.
In a statement, Olu Owerri which has not hidden it’s passion for the return of Ihedioha as governor of the State, tackled the OZDU describing it as a faceless group.
The OZDU in it’s response via a statement signed by its publicity Secretary, Stanley Onyechere argued that it was never against Ihedioha running for Imo governorship in 2023 but opposed to Olu Owerri’s insistence on “Emeka or nothing syndrome” for Owerri zone
Another group, the Ala Owerri United Front, AOUF, holds a different view, saying political leaders in Owerri zone should get ready to hustle for power in 2023.
Bernard Uba, spokesman of the group said it is not enough for leaders of the zone to sit and lament, and expect to grab the governorship seat on a platter of gold.
Uba said “Owerri zone must hustle for power in 2023.We must seek collaboration from other zones to make it work. We cannot go solo about it or embark on emotional sentiments.
“Owerri zone leaders must unite and engage other stakeholders from other zones, to enable us to produce a governor.
“It is about engagement and not by wailing. You hustle for power because it is taken and not given. It is a scramble, a game for the fittest and irrespective of an endorsed zoning system, which to me has become a lip service, leaders of Owerri zone must step forward strongly.
He said “the quest to attain power is tasking, Owerri zone is morally justified to seek for the number one seat of the State when the scramble for governorship seat begins” he said.
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