The clamour for a “Resident Governor” in Imo State has resurfaced, with growing insistence that the next helmsman in 2027 must be someone who truly lives in the state.
At a stakeholders’ meeting of Owerri Zone leaders organized by Olu Owerri in collaboration with Owerri Zone Indigenous Town Union, Ogbako Ndi Eze, and Owerri Zone Youth forum, held at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sorronandi Njoku, SAN, reignited the debate, warning that Imo can no longer afford absentee leaders.
Njoku argued that past governors who lived outside the state before their emergence in office ended up disconnected from the people they governed.
He offered a historical sweep: “Mbakwe lived in Owerri, Enwerem in Lagos, Udenwa in Port Harcourt, Ohakim in Lagos, Okorocha in Jos or Abuja. Of all of them, it was Mbakwe who performed creditably because he lived here before becoming governor.”
According to him, residency is not just symbolic — it is essential to understand the daily struggles of Imolites.
Many align with the former Attorney General, as they insisted that governance must not be reduced to occasional visits or grand speeches but rooted in physical presence.
“The next governor must be someone who has tasted life in Imo, who knows our roads, our markets, our hospitals, and our communities,” Njoku said, drawing loud applause from the stakeholders.
Supporters of this argument point to Governor Sam Mbakwe’s legacy in the Second Republic as evidence.
Mbakwe, who lived and worked in Owerri before emerging as governor, is widely revered as Imo’s most effective administrator. His grassroots connection translated into people-centred policies that many say remain unmatched.
However, critics argue that in a globalised political economy, mere physical presence is no longer enough.
Mr. Tony Onwuka, an Abuja-based Imolite, contends that governance in Nigeria often requires constant negotiation with federal authorities.
“Let’s be honest: Abuja is where decisions are made. A governor who stays glued to Owerri without lobbying in Abuja risks starving the state of vital federal projects,” Onwuka noted.
Governor Hope Uzodimma himself has been at the centre of this debate. His critics accuse him of running Imo from Abuja, but the governor has consistently defended his style.
At the first-anniversary thanksgiving service of his second term in office at Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, Uzodimma dismissed such accusations, insisting his travels were strategic.
“Imo State is part of Nigeria, and for any state to maximize benefits from the Federal Government, its leadership must maintain a robust presence at the national level,” Uzodimma explained.
He stressed that his position as Chairman of both the APC Governors’ Forum and the South-East Governors’ Forum necessitates frequent engagement with the Presidency and federal agencies.
The governor further argued that governance should not be judged by a leader’s physical presence alone.
“How often a governor stays at home cannot be a useful yardstick to determine his administration’s achievements,” he stated.
According to him, his Abuja trips have not stopped the payment of salaries, delivery of infrastructure, or the fight against insecurity in the state.
“A good leader must seize opportunities wherever they arise to secure benefits for his people,” he added.
Yet, this defence has done little to quell the criticisms. Greg Iwu, an Owerri-based columnist, told INNONEWS that Uzodimma’s explanation misses the point.
“Governance is not only about signing contracts or lobbying Abuja. It’s about empathy, visibility, and accessibility. Imo people want a governor who feels their daily pulse, not one whose convoys are seen once in a while,” he argued.
Fred Igwe, a political analyst with INNONEWS, strikes a balance between both camps.
He acknowledges the governor’s point about Abuja lobbying but stresses that overdependence on federal patronage weakens state leadership.
“The truth lies in the middle. Yes, Abuja is important, but presence at home is equally crucial. A governor who spends 70% of his time in Abuja risks losing legitimacy among his own people,” he said.
As 2027 approaches, the call for a “Resident Governor” has become a rallying cry, particularly among some stakeholders in Owerri Zone, which insists that the next governor must come from the zone after years of political marginalisation. For many them, residency is now a non-negotiable qualification.
Whether Imolites will heed this call at the ballot remains to be seen. But one fact is clear: the debate has forced a deeper interrogation of what effective governance truly means — proximity to the people or strategic engagement with Abuja.
The next election may well be a referendum on that very question.
