Ikeduru born socio-political and good governance campaigner, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu Samdaddy, has suggested the need for people of honour and conscience to come together to support Owerri zone in order to sustain the zoning arrangement in the state.
Anyanwu regretted that since the creation of Imo state, no person from the zone had governed the state beyond 24 months.
He expressed disappointment that those maltreating and truncating the hope Owerri zone are the same people clamoring and crying for the inclusion of the South East in the sharing of federal appointments.
According to him, while the Igbo are agitating against marginalization by the Nigerian government, Imo people should in like manner recall the injustice meted out to Owerri zone and ensure that the principles of equity and fairness are seen to be maintained and respected in future.
He said, the reason other states in the South East and South South geopolitical zones are making waves is because they respect the zoning formula, wondering why Imo’s case is different.
“The only thing that can sustain the unity of the state is when men of honour and conscience across the three zones of the state come together to support Owerri zone with a view to correcting the political imbalance by upholding the doctrine of equity in the state.”
“Men and women of conscience should speak against marginalization of Owerri zone in the power sharing arrangement before it is too late”
He said that the zoning arrangement allows for easy development and ensures that every component unit is at par with each other, appealing to those opposed to the idea to have a change of heart.
“Imo is one of the states in Nigeria with the highest number of educated persons, it will be embarrassing for outsiders to see that our state is not making any impact on the areas of employment creation, health, technology, agriculture, education, public utilities and quality road construction”
He stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to correct the injustice against Owerri zone as part of frantic efforts to bring every zone on one table as brothers by supporting the zone in future.
