Okenze George Nkwoji has already responded to my earlier reaction to his piece, but his counter only reinforced the very problem I raised — a fixation on lamentations and self-pity rather than strategy and resolve.
He insists on playing the role of a “devil’s advocate,” but let me be blunt: Owerri Zone does not need devil’s advocates, it needs political fighters who will wrest power with courage and vision. Devil’s advocacy is cowardice packaged as wisdom, and it serves no purpose in 2027.
Nkwoji argues that Owerri Zone is weighed down by weaknesses. Every political bloc has weaknesses, but true leaders transform them into strength. What he calls weaknesses are simply challenges that demand leadership, unity, and focus. To parade them as hopeless flaws is nothing but preaching surrender before the battle begins. That is the hallmark of defeatism.
He scoffed at my position on coalition building and alliances, but the record of power in Imo speaks for itself. Orlu Zone has dominated for 24 years not because it is superior, but because it mastered the art of coalition and bargaining. To dismiss coalition politics is to misunderstand the lifeblood of electoral victory. Owerri Zone will not rise to power by isolation; it will rise by alliances and smart political deals.
Nkwoji also claims that “nothing has changed” since 2019. That is false. Everything has changed. The Imo Charter of Equity has been articulated. The people are restless under Orlu dominance. The tide of fairness now points towards Owerri Zone. Only those trapped in old wounds and past failures will refuse to see the new opportunities staring us in the face.
And yes, Nkwoji laments that he was “neck-deep” in the project and got his fingers burnt. That is his personal experience, but it does not entitle him to impose bitterness and despair on an entire zone. Burnt fingers are not a political strategy. If yesterday’s leaders failed, that should inspire today’s leaders to chart a better path, not to throw in the towel before the real fight begins.
History will not remember prophets of doom or philosophers of failure. History will remember those who organized, those who fought, and those who turned equity into reality. Owerri Zone cannot afford to be drowned in recycled essays of despair. What it needs now are leaders, not a Supreme leader as Nkwoji advocated with the audacity to confront power and win.
Nkwoji may keep writing, but words that glorify surrender will not deliver justice. 2027 is not for for devil’s advocates. It is for strategists, coalition builders, and fighters who will seize the moment and secure Owerri Zone’s rightful place. Anything less is betrayal.
Ejimkonye can be reached via: [email protected]
