BY INNOCENT ONYEUKWU
In the intricate tapestry of Imo State politics, spanning from Orlu, Okigwe to Owerri zones, the recent developments surrounding Governor Hope Uzodimma’s pledge to hand over power to Owerri zone in 2028 have sparked conversations and prompted vital inquiries.
In my recent article titled “Uzodimma’s Allies and the Owerri Zone Guber Crown,” I wholeheartedly endorsed the governor’s commitment to facilitate the transfer of power to Owerri Zone in 2028.
However, I shed light on a concerning perspective, speculating about a potential cold war among the governor’s allies within Owerri Zone APC during the upcoming succession battle.
It’s crucial to recognize that political battles, especially those for succession, can be fierce, tense, and ruthless. This concern arises from the anticipation that Uzodimma’s allies who want to be his successor within Owerri zone may engage in intense internal struggles by the time the contest for succession takes center stage around mid-2026 or earlier.
This fear is not rooted in a prophetic vision but in the absence of a leadership club in the zone to moderate the expected heightened tensions and bruised egos of the likely contenders.
Governor Uzodimma’s decision to prioritize Owerri zone for Imo guber aligns not only with the widely discussed Imo Charter of Equity, but also seems motivated by a desire to rectify the Supreme Court forceful removal of Emeka Ihedioha, a son of Mbaise and Owerri zone, from the governorship position in 2020.
This underscores Uzodimma’s approach to power games, marked by decisive political maneuvers and a commitment to political atonement.Recall, he had secured the Orlu Senate seat from Osita Izunaso through a Supreme Court judgment, only to later contribute to Izunaso’s return to the Senate years later.
However, there is palpable resistance from influential figures in Orlu and Okigwe zones who argue against elevating Owerri zone to the guber seat purely for political expediency. They emphasize that each gubernatorial election cycle in the state involves a scramble for power among the three geopolitical zones, irrespective of whatever stipulations in the Imo Charter of Equity.
They contend that certain allies of the Governor in Owerri zone are mere political tigers on paper, unable to secure victories in their respective political booths as seen in the recently concluded Imo State governorship election.
In their perspective, hiding under the scramble for an Imo governor from Owerri zone should not be a yardstick for any political lightweight or nonetity to expect to be handed the guber seat.
In Owerri Zone, there is a prevailing belief that the Charter of Equity settles the matter definitively, allowing Governor Uzodimma to unilaterally appoint a successor from the zone with the power of incumbency.
What Owerri zone leaders should not overlook is the intricate dynamics and competing interests that usually characterize governorship elections and the race for succession. That is why they need not sit back and expect to be given power on a platter.
While acknowledging Uzodimma’s political prowess as a formidable force, it is premature for those in the Owerri zone to assume that he can single-handedly appoint a successor without strategic engagement with other zones. Already, he faces the daunting task of breaking the pattern where his three predecessors—Achike Udenwa, Ikedi Ohakim, and Rochas Okorocha—were unable to install their chosen successors. This is another tall order for him.
As the political chessboard unfolds, key leaders in Owerri zone must initiate strategic and constructive engagements with counterparts in Orlu and Okigwe zones immediately. The assumption that the governor’s overwhelming political capacity can overcome all obstacles needs reconsideration.
For those eyeing the governorship from Owerri zone within the precincts of the governor’s camp, building alliances and fostering understanding across sister zones will be pivotal in navigating the political terrain leading to 2028.
Bridging divides and courting alliances is not merely a suggestion; it’s a strategic imperative for capturing the gubernatorial seat. The clock is already ticking.