A pressure group known as Orlu Equity Movement (OEM), comprising registered youths of the People Democratic Party in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State have called on the leadership of the party to be mindful of the existing zoning formula which stipulates that power would rotate among the political blocks-Orsu and Isu clans.
The group in a release signed by Comrade Chidozie Anuebu and Engr Okey Ibe as Coordinator and Director of Contact and Mobilization respectively stated that “We are PDP youths, operating under the umbrella of Orlu Equity Movement (OEM), a group made up of registered PDP youths in Orlu LGA.
“We wish to once again, remind the party leadership in Orlu LGA and beyond of an already existing zoning formula which makes it mandatory for power to rotate among the two political blocks of Orsu and Isu clan.
“It is on record that since 1999, positions of membership of house of assembly and LGA chairmanship have always been rotated among the two political blocks.Hon Prince Dr Steve Orji from Ihioma (Orsu clan)served from 1999-2003. As s a gentleman, he adhered strictly to the gentleman agreement of one tenure.
The same thing applied to Hon Dr Peter Ukaigwe from Isu clan who served from 2003-2007.”
The release further noted that, “in 2011, Chief Peter Okorie from Owerri Ebeiri in Isu clan secured the PDP ticket. However, with the emergence of Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his team, Barr Mike Ndubuaku from Ogberuru in Orsu clan won the election on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2011.
“During the 2015 general election, the ruling party in the state at that time in line with the written zoning arrangement adopted Hon Marcel Odunze (Isu clan) as its flag bearer for the Orlu State Constituency Seat.”
“It is worthy of note that in that election both the PDP and the APC ceded their house of assembly tickets for Orlu State Constituency Seat to candidates from Isu clan.”
They further recalled that in 2019, Hon Max Odunze, the C.E.O of Max Aluminum Company as a gentleman and leader par-excellence that he is, respected the zoning arrangement and did not re-contest. He, by that singular patriotic action demonstrated the attributes of a leader and gentleman. This gave way for the emergence of Hon Pascal Okolie who hails from Okporo in Orsu clan.
It is surprising to us as a group that instead of Hon Pascal Okolie who is a product and beneficiary of zoning to respect the age-long zoning arrangement, he seems to have thrown caution to the wind in his rumoured desperation to re-contest. This, to us, is still a rumour as he has not yet told us that he intends to re-contest.”
“Be that as it may, if there are people who should be considered for second term, it should have been the likes of Hon Onuora Olumba who was among the vibrant legislators who distinguished themselves as regards quality and effective representation.”
According to the group, if performance is the yardstick for securing a second term,the incumbent has already disqualified himself, adding that Orlu people have seen nothing to justify the mandate freely given to him”.
Concluding , the release said,”as a responsible and peace loving group that has the interest of the party at heart, we are using this medium to urge the leadership of the party to please save the party from total collapse and disintegration by respecting the zoning arrangement.
“We must not allow any person or group of persons to destroy our great party before returning to APGA where they belong.”
