Lately, the media,particularly the print and social media, have been buzzing with all manner of commentaries about the 2027 Imo governorship debacle,which is about two and half years away. While some people posit that the rumblings that have been generated by various persons or zones laying claims to the Imo governorship seat is too early and also unnecessarily heating up the polity, others hold contrary view, insisting that that politics and the quest for power acquisition, is a long time project.
In the midst of this brouhaha, the contentious Imo Charter of Equity easily comes to mind. The Charter, which is more or less, a gentleman’s agreement advocated by the Imo State Council of Elders, as a panacea to the bickerings, acrimony, and avoidable wastages in both monetary terms and other human resources, usually associated with gubernatorial contests,equally seeks to encourage and enthrone a culture of rotational governance among the three geopolitical zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri, in Imo State.
It is rather unfortunate that some sociopolitical groups in Owerri zone have introduced unbridled desperation, and all manners of subterfuge to arm-twist Imo people, especially Governor Hope Uzodinma, into buying their skewed narratives. They seem to forget that Imo people are educated and also have good knowledge of history.
Agreed, that Owerri zone, just like every other zone in Imo, has a legitimate right to seek to contest for Imo’s governorship seat, they should also know that “what is good for the geese, is also good for the gander.” They need not be reminded that it is not their statutory right. Resorting to subterranean methods and veiled harassment of the governor and the good people of Imo State with the intent of corcercing them to capitulate to their whims won’t work.
Using the Imo Charter of Equity as a pivot for their agitation is equally misplaced. They are missing the mark completely.
If we are to scrutize the Charter thoroughly and dispassionately, the only zone the Charter favours for Imo governorship in 2027 is Okigwe zone. Owerri zone is completely off track for now.
Let us evaluate the following questions. First, can there be equity without equality? Second, which zone conspired and truncated the smooth sailing of the Charter in 2011? Which zone has benefitted most in terms of infrastructural developments ? Which zone has the federal government presence most in Imo State? Which zone gave the incumbent governor of Imo State, the least electoral results in the November 11,2023 governorship election?
Facts,it is said, are sacred, while comments are free. Rabble rousing and disturbing the peace of the State with reckless and baseless agitation is very pedestrian.
The Imo Charter of Equity preaches equity, which presupposes “fairness and justice.” Fairness and justice can only be done or served when all the zones are treated equally. Equality emphasizes treating every zone the same way, regardless of any existing differences.
In other words, equity without equality is a hoax. This is because equity’s main aim,in practice, is to rectify inequalities where they exist.
In Imo’s political chess board, Okigwe zone deserves to be treated equally like others. In 2011, the opportunity for the zone to complete its first circle in Imo’s governance was truncated by Owerri zone in conspiracy with some anti-democracy forces in Orlu zone. To date, that injustice done to Okigwe geopolitical zone is still haunting Imo.
Recall that Senator Chris Anyanwu from Owerri zone publicly admitted that she conspired with the military to subvert the will of Imo people, thereby shortchanging Okigwe zone in 2011. Archbishop Anthony Obinna from Owerri zone and his gang also unleashed pernicious propaganda against Okigwe zone’s completion of its second term in 2011,using the Catholic Church as instrument of destabilisation. Ditto for the despicable roles played by the Agbasos and Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho (all from Owerri zone) in frustrating Okigwe zone in 2011.
Infrastructurally,Owerri zone has always been the beautiful bride and epicentre of eye-popping developmental projects,while Okigwe zone remains abandoned like an orphan. 90% of all federal institutions and establishments in Imo State is in Owerri zone.
Even during the 2023 governorship election, Okigwe zone with six local government areas outwitted Owerri zone in the votes it generated for the incumbent governor. It came second after Orlu zone. This proves that Okigwe zone is more politically mature, focused, and reliable.
If at all the Imo Charter of Equity is to be boldly and properly domesticated, the injustice done to Okigwe zone in 2011 must first be rectified by 2027. It is a common aphorism that “he who seeks for equity must come with clean hands.” It is an anathema for Owerri zone to seek for equity with dirty hands.
Assuming Okigwe zone was allowed to sail through in 2011 and complete its tenure in 2015,afterwards, Owerri zone would have taken and completed its full circle in 2023, and Orlu zone takes over again. But due to unstable and unreliable characters in Imo’s political environment, the Charter was deliberately frustrated, which has brought Imo to where she is now.
There can be no equity without fairness and justice. Fairness and justice, in turn, demand that any outstanding case of inequality in Imo governorship should be addressed by 2027 with Okigwe zone in mind.
Gladly, the good people of Orlu zone appreciate this fact.They are witnesses to to Imo’s political growth and development.
2027 is another golden opportunity to right the wrongs in Imo’s political system and avert the wrath of nemesis and law of retributive justice. Let us say “No” to merchants of diviciveness and disunity in Imo’s political milieu.
