If Owerri Zone truly desires to produce the next governor of Imo State in 2027, then it must, as a matter of political foresight and strategic consensus, decide which bloc within the zone should take the shot.
Anything short of that is a recipe for disunity, confusion, and another lost opportunity. The path to victory is not through wishful thinking or emotional agitation — it lies in deliberate political calculation and structured internal dialogue among stakeholders of the zone.
As I have repeatedly maintained, Governor Hope Uzodimma remains the surest and most practical path to an Owerri Zone governor in 2027. Those who nurse the illusion that a miracle will occur — that somehow, by some stroke of luck, Owerri Zone will produce a governor without engaging the Governor — are living in denial.
Those waiting for Uzodimma to repeat the political mistakes of former governors, Achike Udenwa and Rochas Okorocha, who failed to produce successors, are daydreaming. Politics is not driven by emotions but by alignment and understanding of realities on the ground.
For equity and fairness, the Oratta Bloc deserves the governorship if power must come to Owerri Zone. This is a matter of historical justice. Among the three blocs that make up the zone — Oratta, Mbaike, and Mbaise — it is only Oratta that has not produced a governor.
The Oratta Bloc, which includes Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, and Owerri West, has remained politically loyal, strategically positioned, and foundational to the political identity of Owerri Zone.
The Mbaise Bloc has had its turn with Emeka Ihedioha, who served as governor, albeit briefly. That bloc comprises Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpala. To now agitate for another opportunity so soon is not only unfair but politically insensitive. Power rotation, even within a zone, must be guided by balance and justice, not by greed or emotion.
Similarly, the Mbaike Bloc — made up of Ikeduru and Mbaitoli — has also produced a governor in Evan Enwerem of blessed memory. It is therefore only rational and politically correct that the pendulum swings to Oratta Bloc, which has waited patiently and contributed immensely to the growth of the state without being rewarded with the top seat.
Those who claim that any bloc in Owerri Zone can produce the governor are nothing but agents of confusion. Such thinking betrays political timidity and a lack of strategic understanding of zoning and power dynamics. It is this same shallow reasoning that has kept the zone disunited and unable to seize opportunities when they arise. Politics is not a free-for-all affair; it is a game of structure, balance, and guided ambition.
When a wealthy father fails to share his inheritance properly through a Will, it creates lasting conflict within the family. The same principle applies to politics. If Owerri Zone refuses to define which Bloc should take the shot, the resulting scramble will lead to mutual destruction — and the governorship may slip away yet again.
A divided house cannot stand, and history will not be kind to the leaders who failed to act wisely at this critical juncture.
This is why the time is now for key political leaders, elders, and opinion moulders in Owerri Zone to sit down and reach a binding consensus. They must look beyond personal ambition and ego, and think of posterity.Such a meeting should not be a mere political jamboree but a serious, strategic engagement to define a clear and united front ahead of 2027.
The Oratta Bloc holds the moral and historical claim to the governorship. It is the cradle of Owerri Zone identity and the administrative heartbeat of Imo State. Denying Oratta at this stage would amount to political injustice and a deliberate act of marginalization within the same zone. For justice, unity, and peace to prevail, Oratta must be given the nod.
Owerri Zone must not go into 2027 without internal clarity and cohesion. The dream of producing a governor will remain a mirage if the zone continues to chase shadows. Power is not given to the divided; it is earned through unity of purpose. The earlier Owerri Zone chooses which Bloc to rally around — particularly Oratta — the closer it comes to achieving what has long eluded it. History beckons, and this time, the zone must not fail itself.
