STEP DOWN TILL 2027, IMO STATE COUNCIL OF ELDERS AND LEADERS FROM OWERRI ZONE TELLS CANDIDATES FROM OWERRI AND OKIGWE ZONES....
The leaders who took the decisions in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Thursday, said though it is the right of all the candidates from the three senatorial zones to contest the election, adhering to the Charter of Equity will ensure peace, unity and stability in Imo State.
The leaders who took their turn to speak also agreed that cognisance of the incumbency of the present Governor, who has done well, for which reason stakeholders unanimously adopted him for a second tenure in the last Imo stakeholders meeting of January this year, and who constitutionally is entitled to a second tenure, he should be supported to go for a second tenure after which, by this Charter, the governorship goes to Owerri zone.
Deputy Governor Placid Njoku said the people gathered together to sign the charter which he said is not a casual document.
He said about 411 elders in Imo State were the ones who ratified the document. We said the governor should complete his second term of four years after which it will be the turn of the Owerri zone
“For us in Owerri zone, we see it as that handshake which other zones want to put across to us. There is no misgiving or doubt in us that we support it. It is not a casual document, it is a document signed for the good of Imo State, not for the governor to win election because he can win his election with or without the charter of equity because of his good works.”
Also, Chief Jerry Chukwueke said in supporting the charter and the re-election of Governor Uzodimma to serve out his second term, the power of governorship will rotate to Owerri zone.
He said his idea is to continue to promote peace and quiet in the state. “You cannot have a robust development in insecurity. One of the things that the governor is most concerned about is how he can reduce the amount of money expended every month in supporting security infrastructure and operatives so that most of the money can be redirected and re-channelled into further development of Imo State. “
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu noted that the Charter of Equity would ensure a smooth transition as well as promote peace in the state.
“This is not a party affair. I am neither APC nor PDP. Whoever wants to run should run but it is not the turn of Owerri zone, we have also told other candidates from Owerri zone to step down, I have told about three of the contestants to keep their money and use it when it will be the turn of Owerri zone and support Governor Uzodimma because a vote for Governor Uzodimma is a vote for Owerri zone.”
Prof. Morris Iwu called for grassroots mobilisation in support of the charter, saying that the document is a gentleman’s agreement based on honour and principle.
He however appealed to Owerri indigenes to support the charter by voting for Governor Uzodimma, adding that failure to do so has thrown the ballot open. “It is the turn of Owerri zone but if Owerri zone fails to vote in support of the charter, it will not be their turn because you cannot reap where you did not sow.”
For Chief Lemmy Akakem, the importance of the Charter of Equity cannot be overemphasized. “If you look at what played out in Ebonyi, Enugu, and Anambra states, you would have noticed that there was less acrimony in picking their candidates for their governorship election because they know the zones that would produce the candidates. So, it will reduce tension, it will bring peace and equity and less expensive.”
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