It is becoming clearer by the day that some political forces in Orlu zone are quietly resisting the natural justice of allowing Owerri zone to produce the next governor of Imo State in 2027, after Governor Hope Uzodimma rounds off his tenure.
This is not just surprising, it is deeply troubling. For a zone that has monopolized power for more than two decades, to now grumble at the legitimate aspirations of Owerri, reveals an unsettling appetite for political domination.
Recent communiques from Orlu zone leaders have carried undertones of subtle warnings, couched in political language but unmistakable in intent.
In paragraphs four and five of Orlu Zone Development Forum Communique, the leaders indirectly advised Owerri zone to tread carefully in its quest for the governorship.
This was not advice; it was a veiled threat. It was a signal that Orlu is not ready to cede ground, even after benefitting disproportionately from Owerri’s loyalty in the past.
This is a bitter irony. Owerri zone has never been hostile to the ambitions of Orlu. On the contrary, history records that Owerri has always aided both Orlu and Okigwe zones to produce governors of the state.
From Achike Udenwa to Rochas Okorocha, from Emeka Ihedioha’s truncated tenure to the current administration of Uzodimma — Owerri has played the role of a steady ally.
Those who now turn history on its head, pretending that Owerri’s agitation is strange or illegitimate, are distorting the facts. The facts are simple and undeniable: Orlu has held power for more than 20 years, Okigwe has had its turn, while Owerri has only tasted governorship for less than eight months. If justice and equity mean anything in politics, then the argument for Owerri zone to produce a governor in 2027 is not only valid, it is unassailable.
And yet, instead of embracing this reality, Orlu’s political elite appear to be pushing back. Their discomfort is becoming glaring, their statements increasingly defensive.
Why should a zone that has enjoyed unbroken power for more than 20 years be jittery at the prospect of another zone having a fair share? What are they afraid of? If Owerri zone produced a governor, would the sky fall? Or is it that political monopoly has become an addiction too sweet to drop?
There is nothing wrong in Owerri zone dialoguing and engaging Governor Hope Uzodimma on the need for power shift.Politics, at its best, is constructive engagement — and that is exactly what Owerri zone leaders are doing.
They are not distracting the governor, they are not undermining his administration. They are simply preparing for the future, using the power of persuasion and political negotiation, which is the lifeblood of democracy.
Those who interpret Owerri zone’s engagement as confrontation are either deliberately mischievous or blinded by the arrogance of power. What Owerri seeks is fairness. Nothing more. Nothing less. A zone that has produced leaders who built the state, a zone that provides the intellectual and economic hub of Imo, deserves its time under the sun. That time is 2027.
It is laughable that some Orlu leaders speak as though Owerri must ask for permission to aspire. Power is not given; it is taken through legitimate struggle, persuasion, and collective action. If Owerri zone chooses to organize, consult, and build alliances, it is well within its rights. Any attempt to delegitimize this process is an insult to democracy itself.
Imo State cannot continue to revolve around one zone. To do so is to breed resentment, fuel instability, and undermine the very foundation of equity. The spirit of political rotation is not mere sentiment; it is a practical tool to ensure inclusion and balance.Denying Owerri its fair turn would be to invite division into the body politic of Imo.
What makes this even more worrisome is that Orlu should be leading the call for equity, not resisting it. A magnanimous Orlu, after decades of enjoying power, would say: “Enough, let our brothers in Owerri take their turn.” That would be statesmanship. That would be honour. Anything short of that begins to look like greed.
Owerri zone’s agitation is legitimate, peaceful, and forward-looking. The leaders of the zone have not threatened violence or disruption; they have chosen dialogue over confrontation. That is the highest form of democratic conduct. It is now left for Orlu leaders to either embrace justice or cling to selfishness.History will judge.
In the end, the truth is undeniable. Orlu cannot hold power forever. Okigwe cannot claim monopoly. Owerri’s day must come, and 2027 is that day. To resist it is to resist equity, to scorn history, and to mock justice.
Imo State deserves balance, and Owerri zone is prepared, ready, and entitled to step into the driver’s seat.
*Ejimkonye can be reached: [email protected]
“There is nothing wrong in Owerri zone dialoguing and engaging Governor Hope Uzodimma on the need for power shift.Politics, at its best, is constructive engagement — and that is exactly what Owerri zone leaders are doing”
