Owerri Zone is not leaving anything to chance. Their repeated visits to Governor Hope Uzodimma may unsettle some detractors, but to the discerning mind, it is a mark of political seriousness, strategy, and maturity. For the first time in decades, the zone appears united, persistent, and unwavering in the pursuit of a collective dream: producing the next governor of Imo State after Uzodimma.
Never in the political history of Imo has Owerri Zone demonstrated such relentlessness. Their engagements with the governor are not empty courtesy calls, as cynics would want the public to believe. They are calculated, deliberate, and anchored on the undeniable truth that politics rewards consistency, pressure, and negotiation.
Those who twist the narrative and dismiss Owerri leaders’ visits as mere photo opportunities completely miss the point. Politics is built on relationships and sustained engagement. Silence or passivity in the power game is political suicide, and Owerri Zone clearly understands this. By constantly engaging Uzodimma, they are keeping their demand on the front burner of Imo politics.
The visits, therefore, must not be ridiculed but commended. They are proof that Owerri Zone is no longer naïve about the realities of power. For once, the zone is playing its cards with rare dexterity—showing focus, organization, and determination. This is how zones with ambition position themselves in the highly competitive arena of governance and succession.
It is also worthy of note that Uzodimma has never shut his doors against them. Each time Owerri leaders troop to Government House, the governor receives them with warmth. That in itself speaks volumes. If their demand were illegitimate or baseless, Uzodimma would have waved them aside. Instead, he listens, he engages, and he nods to their concerns.
This alone reveals that the governor acknowledges the legitimacy of their pursuit. He knows the Owerri case is strong, rooted in equity, fairness, and history. He understands that leadership in a democratic setting must rotate, and that after his own tenure, the yearnings of the zone cannot be ignored.
For decades, Owerri has complained of marginalization, but often they lacked the unity or the political will to press home their case. Today, the story is different. The current tempo of engagement demonstrates that they have learnt from past mistakes. No longer are they waiting for handouts or sympathies; they are demanding, negotiating, and insisting.
Some critics argue that constant visits to the governor make Owerri appear desperate. But such criticism is shallow. In politics, desperation is often another word for determination. The North, the West, and even the South-East at the national level have all used relentless engagement to secure power. Owerri is doing exactly what must be done—staking their claim boldly and consistently.
To ignore these visits is to misunderstand the art of power. Politics thrives on visibility, persistence, and presence. By keeping their case alive before Uzodimma, Owerri Zone ensures that when the question of succession comes, they will not be forgotten or pushed aside by louder voices from other zones.
This strategy also helps in shaping public opinion. Every visit sends a clear signal across Imo State: Owerri Zone is united, organized, and determined. That visibility builds legitimacy and rallies grassroots support. It keeps the dream alive in the hearts of their people and places pressure on the political establishment to consider their rightful demand.
Owerri Zone’s cause is just. Their approach is sound. Their persistence is commendable. And their engagement with Uzodimma is not a weakness, but a strength. Politics rewards those who show up, those who speak up, and those who never relent. At last, Owerri Zone seems to have cracked the code.
The message is loud and clear: Owerri Zone is serious, and this time, they know exactly how to go about it. Their persistent courtship of Uzodimma is not flattery—it is strategy. And it is working.
