The Owerri Zone Progressives Forum (OZOPROF) has reiterated its earlier position on the political future of Imo State, insisting that the governorship should shift to Okigwe zone in 2027 in the spirit of equity and fairness.
The group, led by its National Coordinator, Dr. Chibuike Onyeoziri, disclosed that it is finalizing arrangements to pay a courtesy visit to Governor Hope Uzodimma, whom he described as a fair-minded leader that has consistently cautioned against the “it’s-our-turn” entitlement mentality being promoted by some leaders in Owerri zone.
In a statement issued in Owerri and signed by the group’s coordinators across the nine local government areas of the zone, and made available to INNONEWS, OZOPROF dismissed claims that its position was a distraction to the zone’s political aspirations. It maintained that rather than being spoilers, the group’s intervention was to prevent what it called a “looming political disaster” and to protect the interests of Owerri youths from the manipulative tendencies of a self-serving cabal.
Read Full Statement
OWERRI ZONE PROGRESSIVES FORUM (OZOPROF)
WE STAND ON OUR STATEMENT
Following our widely publicized press statement a couple of weeks ago, some of our members have been inundated with calls from some highly placed individuals in Owerri zone accusing us of putting a spanner in the wheels of progress already recorded by the zone’s political leaders in its quest to produce the next governor of Imo state.
Nothing can be further from the truth, however. The claim of the so-called progress is a big deceit and a big illusion. Instead, what we have witnessed is a continued mockery of our people caused by the lack of comportment – on the part of the individuals who claim to be its arrowhead – and tact in the way they are going about.
- In the first place, our so-called leaders have been told severally that the entitlement mentality with which they are going about the entire will lead the zone to nowhere. Even our dear governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has in more than two occasions pointedly told our leaders that the “its-our-turn” slogan by our people makes no sense as, according to him, “power is never given turn by turn.”
Governor Uzodimma has also, rather magnanimously, advised our people that “you cannot do it alone”. But it is not a hidden matter that our so-called leaders have been going about it with a contrary posturing. Even though a few elements amidst them have repeatedly advised that we go into a meaningful dialogue with the people of Okigwe zone – which is also laying as much claim to the right to produce the next Imo governor – majority has been going about rather disdainful of the feelings of the latter. As a matter of fact, Governor Uzodimma had on August 20, 2025, at the latest “courtesy” call of Owerri zone leaders to him, pointedly told them that Okigwe zone has the capacity to scuttle Owerri zone’s efforts if it is not carried along.
- Two, it is also not a hidden matter that some of the so-called Owerri zone leaders are merely in pursuit of personal agenda, hidden under a supposed collective interest of the zone; the reason why there is a proliferation of groups – OZOPOLF, IHP, OZAL, OZOPEM etc etc – claiming to be championing to cause. Even though some critics were initially cynical over the emergence of our own group – Owerri Zone Progressives Forum (OZOPROF) – they have since discovered that its emergence was inevitable because, contrary to the accusation that OZOPROF is thwarting the “progress” already made, it emerged not only to save to the entire zone from a disastrous and disgraceful outing in 2027 but also to reassure the youths of Owerri zone that they still have a feature beyond 2027 – as against what their more elderly ones are telling them.
- We stand by our statement. Instead of that grand illusion that they are making progress, we advise those elders of our zone to toe the more reasonable line as advocated by a few from amongst them which, at the risk of sounding repetitive, is that we should allow Okigwe zone go for just one more term of four years between 2027 and 2031 for the sake of equity.
- Since after our first outing, some of these elder brothers and sisters of ours – especially within the Emekuku cabal – have been going about in search of the signatories to our press statement. Some have approached the presidents-general of our various communities to assist in identifying or reaching us. Whatever might be their motive, we wish to state that we are neither afraid nor can we be bought over. Those who are in doubt of our identities should wait because we are putting finishing touches to an arrangement to make our own courtesy call on the governor and we pray that His Excellency will be kind enough to oblige us.
- Once again, we completely reject the accusation of being spoilers. Instead, what we have embarked upon is a noble cause aimed at differentiating between the selfish interest of a few elements from the interest of the generality of the good people of Owerri zone especially the youths.
2027 can never be a do-or-die for Nde Owerri zone. It can only be for those who have realized that beyond that date, they may no longer be in a position to pursue either their personal ambition or that of their cronies. 2027 is certainly not the end for the youths of Owerri zone which OZOPROF represents and it is indeed heartwarming that several youths in the zone are keying into the agenda of liberating them from the self-serving propaganda of the cabal in the zone.
- Following our press statement, another concerned youth, Mr Amanze Nwachukwu, writing from Ikeduru local government area, did a very brilliant article in which he even shed more light on the matter. Nwachukwu, who was not even a signatory to our statement wrote partly as follows: “… if the Ohakim administration had not been truncated in 2011 … the next governor in 2015 would have naturally come from Owerri zone. If that had happened, that governor of Owerri zone extraction would have completed an eight-year tenure of two terms in 2023, to hand over the baton to Orlu zone, all things being equal. The Orlu zone governor would have completed an eight-year tenure by 2031/32 by which time power will return to Okigwe zone and reside there .. till 2039 when Owerri zone will take it again. By 2039, an Owerri zone youth of today who is 21 years of age and has just graduated from the university will be only 35 years old, the prime of his youth. It, therefore, means that the fellow saying that it is 2027 or never does not have the youths of today in mind …”.
- This passage from Nwachukwu’s article should be read over and over by youths of Owerri zone as it brings to the fore the insincerity of some of our elders in their effort to brainwash us with things like the nonsensical “On Aburi We Stand” chant, invented by the media handlers of the Imo Harmony Project (IHP) led by a prominent member of the cabal.
- To our traditional rulers, either within or outside the zone, we enjoin them to ignore the attempt to drag them into the controversy through ascribing to them what they never did. In our first publication under reference, we drew attention to the false claim by one of the members of the Emekuku cabal, a former minister, that traditional rulers in the state had lifted their Offor in affirmation that the next governor of Imo state must come from Owerri zone.
Our repudiation of that claim was based on the result of an investigation which revealed that our traditional rulers did no such thing and that roping them in was merely in demonstration of the desperation our more elderly ones are showing on a matter that ought not to lead to such a desecration of their sacred authority.
- We therefore enjoin the good people of Owerri zone, especially the youth, to distance themselves from these elders who resort to barefaced lies in pursuit of their selfish interests. In due course, we shall link up with our fellow youths in both Orlu and Okigwe zones to fashion out ways of supporting our dear governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, in his effort to clear the confusion that arose from the past mischief of some of them.
Long live OZOPROF
Long Live Owerri Zone
Long Live Imo State
Signed:
Dr. Chibuike Onyeoziri (National Co-ordinator)
(1) Alphonsus Diala (Ngor Okpala LGA)
(2) Romanus Asoluka (Owerri West LGA)
(3) Ndubisi Osuagwu (Owerri North LGA)
(4) Sixtus Okoro (Aboh Mbaise LGA)
(5) Marizu Nwogwugwu (Ezinihitte LGA)
(6) Collins Anyadike (Mbaitoli LGA)
(7) Romanus Anyanwu (Ikeduru LGA)
(8) Austin Nwigwe (Ahiazu Mbaise LGA)
(9) Osondu Acholonu (Owerri Municipal)
