Imo State was created in 1976 with the view of maintaining equity and balance among political units (ethnic groups) in the Federation, and since its creation till today, several internal political segments have been created for developmental and equity purposes. Based on these intentions, a political conscience or internally agreed morality is generated for the reasons of equality in power rotation and sharing, and Imolites unanimously agreed to impose it on themselves, and this is the equity charter, which is thus a non-constitutional matter, justice in view.
This presentation is to consider the context of the destabilized equity charter for power shifts and rotation in Imo State since its creation and especially since 1979 when democracy began in Imo as a political entity. It will attempt to reflect on the history of power-sharing in democratic Imo, the breaches that came along the way but with the vision of restoring the pre-existing charter in rectificatory manner.
According to Martin Luther King Jr., “Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him that it is right.” The big question begging for answer in the fourth coming 2027 election in Imo state is, Is it right (base on conscience) for Imo political leaders to shun equity and fair play in the governorship election, ndi Imo, is it right?
On February 3, 1976 amidst mixed feelings: Anxiety, joy, fears, speculations and desperation, the Muritala Muhammad-led Military Junta carved out Imo State out of the former East Central State of the Federation. Imo State then comprised of the present day Imo and Abia, as well as some parts of Ebonyi State; in accordance with the nationwide Broadcast that stated the component Local Governments of the new State. It was evident that apart from the war devastated General Hospital, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Imo Hotels, the Modern Shoe Factory and the Leather Industry (owned by a private company), there were no investments visibly made by both the defunct Eastern Nigerian Government and the later truncated East-Central State.
It would be recalled that on March 14th, 1976, Lieutenant Commander Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu, the Federal Junta appointed first Military Governor of Imo State, moved from Enugu to Owerri. Ever since his appointment as the Military Governor of the new State, Imo, on February 3, 1976, he was in Enugu for consultations with the then Military Governor of the former East Central State, Col John Atom Kpera who became the Anambra State Military Governor. And just a day he moved from Enugu to Owerri, on March 5, 1976, Commander G.N. Kanu announced his first set of civilian commissioners, which means that while consultations were going on between Col Kpera and Commander Kanu, so many scenes, activities, manipulations and lobbying were taken place.
I remember vividly then as a Catholic, that it was on St Patrick’s Day, Wednesday March 17, 1976; exactly six weeks after he was sworn in as the Military Governor of Imo State that Lt Commander G.N. Kanu made his maiden broadcast to Imolites. His State Broadcast was titled, “All Hands on Deck”, (a real Naval and Military terminology and conception of synergy). In it, he stated his readiness to heal the post-war social wounds and thrall Imo forward.
Inequity started from the time Imo was created and the then military governor lamented on the practiced in-equitability which according to him was the absence of dialogue and uneven distribution of government amenities. This he captured in his speech as he emphasized on equitable distribution of resources.
In the speech, he remarked that “regrettably” Imolites “had marked time for so long since 1976”. He noted the lack or absence of dialogue and proper understanding between the former State Government and the governed, which resulted in great pressures of “being subjects without the compensating satisfaction of being properly governed”. He attributed some of the latent frustrations of the State, which were as a result of “the uneven distribution of government amenities which led to a situation where some areas were over endowed with government patronage while others stagnated in backwardness”.
According to AJN Nzeribe, in retrospect, Imolites then “saw in the creation of Imo State, the widening of the gates of opportunity; not as a disenchantment and outright frustration. They saw it as a fulfillment of a dream State and society in which insecurity and gross inequality should cease. They would struggle to transform the State capital into a great capital worthy of its great name. It was in these words that the first Military Governor of Imo State, invited all and sundry to play their parts in the exciting venture.”
In its existence as a political entity, Imo State has witnessed an epochalised leadership, which proceeds from its national leadership. From its creation in March 1976 to December 1980, the State witnessed the administration of four chief Executives. Each has his own method of administration and power-sharing formula. This period as well had both military and civilian governments and elapsed in 1983, when the lengthiest Junta rule pioneered the State and managed power-sharing according to the Military Administration’s choices and discretions.
Thus, as a self-ruled political entity, Imo has elected and shared power amongst its citizens in 1979-1983 (Chief Sam.O. Mbakwe’s regime), 1992-1993 (Chief Evan Enwerem’s regime), 1999-2007 (Chief Achike Udenwa’s regime), 2007-2011 (Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s regime), and 2011-2019 (Chief Rochas Okorocha’s regime) 2019 to date 2025 to 2027 Gov. Hope Uzodimma. The grand questions here are: How has power been shared among the various arms of government in the State? How has it been rotated among the component political zones of the State? Has it been equitable and constant?
In Aesop’s fables, the philosopher (Aesop) told a story of the lion and the wild Ass thus, “A lion and a wild ass went out hunting together, the latter was to run down the prey buy his superior speed, and the former would then come up and dispatch it. They met with great success, and when it came to sharing the spoil the lion divided it all into three equal portions. ‘I will take the first’. Said he, ‘because I am king of the beasts; I will also take the second, because as your partner, I am entitled to half of what remains, and as for the third-well, unless you give it up to me and take yourself off pretty quick, the third, believe me, will make you feel very sorry for yourself”. The above story by Aesop however reflects the true position of how political power is shared in Imo State. Brief historical cum political inference shall justify my assertions.
The concept and reality of power-sharing and equity charter, is not an Imo State problem alone, it is universal amongst the entire States of the Federation; it is a National and Federal trend and trait. In the Federal level, from October 1, 1960-1966, 1979-1983, 1992-1993, 1999-2007, 2007-2011, 2011-2015, 2015 – 2019, and 2019-2027 the Nigerian Presidency, Vice Presidency, Senate Presidency as well as the Speaker House of Representatives, etc., have been rotated amongst the component socio-political divisions in the country.
