– Iwuanyanwu blasts OZOPOLF
A political icon and god-father, renowned industrialist, philanthropist, Christian soldier of Christ and leading member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), has challenged Owerri zone political leaders to take serious practical steps to actualize their political dreams and goals by striving to reduce poverty in the zone instead of the apparent pursuit of cheap money making ventures and sale of their birth right for mere pittance, or plate of porridge.
Chief Iwuanyanwu who was one of the lead speakers at a recent summit of the coalition of “Owerri Re-awakening” group held at the All Saints Cathedral Church field Egbu, in Owerri North LGA, observed that one of the problems facing the zone was poverty and called on well to do citizens to help in the massive industrialization of the area with the aim to reduce unemployment, hunger and poverty.
He recalled how a political forum under the aegis of Owerri Zonal Political Leaders Forum (OZOPOLF) had in 2014 prior to the 2015 gubernatorial elections rallied round to all the prominent and politicians in the zone who threw in money to the group with hope of vigorously pursuing and actualizing the zone’s ambition of political leadership of the state but was disappointed that the group went to the highest bidder for cash and canary gains.
It would be recalled that OZOPOLF (a group supposed to be working for the actualization of an indigene of Owerri zone becoming governor of Imo state) was the brain child of its founder and leader, Chief Charles Amadi (Chavon) who was alleged to have abandoned the mission of his group for more pecuniary gains.
In a keynote address delivered by another top politician and legal luminary, in the zone, Hon. Chief Mike Ahamba, “the lack of unity was found to be a factor militating against the zone and called for a collective political and social achievement to enable the area forge ahead close ranks. He gave credence to Engr. Iwuanyanwu’s call for massive industrialization of the zone by beginning with small scale industries. He also observed that patriotism and due sense of equity in political relationship will foster unity in the zone against the other and that the bias for one section of the zone would also not help issues.
The legal luminary contended that Owerri zone has made selfless concessions to achieve friendship and better understanding among the people in the three senatorial zones in the state since 1999 thus making room for the unwritten charter of equity to their own disappointment.
The political summit which was chaired by a household business magnet, Mr. Pascal Dozie resolved among others that the next governor of Imo state should be an indigene of Owerri zone and called on the good sense of the citizens towards achieving this goal. Other resolutions of the summit was a call on the governor of Imo state, Chief Rochas Okorocha to put a halt to the current economic devastation of the state through massive demolition of properties and markets Owerri zone especially under the prevailing harsh national economic recession.
It stated that governor should practically pay all outstanding arrears and gratuities owed pensioners so as to mitigate the sufferings of retired pensioners in the state many of who are dying out of penury.
The Egbu summit attracted a litany of who is who in Owerri zone including the clergy, the academician, professionals, unions, voluntary agencies, public servants, technocrats and artisans.
