The recent political gathering in Owerri has sent an unmistakable message to all who care to listen.
Governor Hope Uzodimma has fully entrenched himself in Nigeria’s power establishment, and when the question of succession arises in Imo in 2027, no outsider will dictate the outcome. For Owerri zone, this is both a blessing and a warning — a sermon that must not be ignored.
The sheer weight of political figures who stormed Owerri for the Governor’s book launch spoke volumes.President Bola Tinubu was present. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy Barau Jibrin were there. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, added their presence. Even more significant, 23 APC governors, alongside eminent emirs, obas, and traditional rulers from the South-East, honoured Uzodimma. That was not a mere book presentation; it was a declaration of political authority.
Those who think otherwise are deluding themselves. Claims that the INEC chairman is their friend, or that Nyesom Wike will anoint a candidate for Imo State, are nothing short of living in a fool’s paradise. The September 30, 2025 show of force proved beyond any doubt that Uzodimma alone will decide who succeeds him. No amount of backroom scheming can upturn this reality.
Uzodimma, by pulling such a galaxy of power brokers to Owerri, deliberately sent a clear signal. No one, within or outside Imo, will stop him from installing his successor. The optics were not accidental. They were a calculated display of strength, designed to silence dissent and warn hopefuls that the governor holds the keys to Douglas House in 2027.
This brings us to Owerri zone. For too long, the zone has lived with the illusion that power will come its way by default. The truth is that political power is never handed over on a platter. It is negotiated, it is fought for, it is strategically secured. Owerri zone must therefore wake up and position itself in line with reality.
That reality is simple. Only Governor Uzodimma can tilt the balance in their favour. And if Owerri zone genuinely desires to produce the next governor, it must align itself with him rather than gamble on external promises. A divided Owerri will be its own undoing, especially with Okigwe zone lurking patiently in the background, ready to seize any slip.
This is why there must be a united front. The three major political blocs in Owerri zone — Oratta, Mbaise, and Mbaike — cannot afford to bicker and work at cross-purposes. Unity is no longer a matter of choice but of survival. If they fail to harmonize and speak with one voice, they risk watching another zone take what should rightfully come to them.
Among the three, Oratta must be given serious consideration. History and political logic dictate that it is time for Oratta to take a shot at producing the next governor. But this can only happen if Mbaise and Mbaike see beyond narrow ambitions and agree to rally behind one common project. Internal rivalry is the fastest way to squander this rare opportunity.
The sermon from Owerri is clear. Hope lies not in external endorsements or empty political promises, but in embracing the governor’s goodwill. The book launch proved Uzodimma is no longer just a governor; he is a national power broker. And in the politics of succession, his word will weigh more than any distant godfather.
Owerri must therefore continue to look up to the governor and pray that he chooses a successor from the zone. Only then will the long-cherished dream of an Owerri zone governorship be realized. But if complacency and disunity prevail, the zone may yet again lose out, while Okigwe patiently smiles at the sidelines.
The message could not be louder. Owerri must organize, not agonize. The time to act is now, for Uzodimma has shown he will not be stopped. The only question that remains is whether Owerri zone will seize the moment — or waste it.
The sermon from Owerri is clear. Hope lies not in external endorsements or empty political promises, but in embracing the governor’s goodwill. The book launch proved Uzodimma is no longer just a governor; he is a national power broker. And in the politics of succession, his word will weigh more than any distant godfather.
