As the intrigues, alignments and behind the scene manipulations ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Imo State become topical issues, more so, with the hyping of the Charter of Equity, an elder statesman and sibling of the immediate past Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace A.J.V. Obinna has stressed the need for the people of Owerri zone to support and align with Okigwe zone and then wait for their turn in 2031
According to Paddy Obinna, who bared his mind while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital recently, “Owerri zone can help to restore balance and equity in the polity by supporting a governorship candidate from Okigwe zone. The alliance will not only be a strategic move but also a moral imperative as it will address the historic injustices that were perpetrated against Okigwe zone.
Reacting to the response from the Governor to members of the Imo Harmony Project (IHP) delegation led by Capt Emma Iheanacho who visited him on……, Obinna said, “the governor’s response was a very intelligent one. He told them to go back home and unite the people and that though he believes in the Charter of Equity, merit must also be considered. The Gov made his point in a very clear and intelligent manner.
You know as much as I do that those who visited the Gov are one of such several organizations in the state, but unfortunately some people are putting the cart before the horse instead of the reverse”.
Obinna also commended Gov Uzodinma for reminding the IHP delegation that he still has about 3 years to go. Hence, the visit and speculations about which zone will produce the next governor of the state as far as he is concerned are mere distractions.
“It is obvious that the leaders of some of these organizations have ulterior political motives that take precedence over the collective interests of the people they claim to represent”.
Responding to a question, Paddy Obinna frowned at the activities of some people from Owerri zone, who after truncating what was supposed to be Okigwe zone’s 8-year tenure through Ikedi Ohakim by supporting former Gov Rochas Okorocha in 2011, are now insisting that it is the turn of Owerri zone.
“You are bringing me back to the ugly incident of 2011, when the Orlu zone took what was supposed to be Okigwe zone’s turn through Ohakim. I feel very guilty each time this unfortunate incident comes up, especially when you recall that the Obinnas, Owerri people and the church were involved directly and indirectly in supporting an Orlu man to win that election. In all these, they were not fair to Ohakim and Okigwe people.”.
That injustice against Okigwe zone must be corrected if the Charter of Equity must be entrenched and sustained. As a matter of fact, what we should be talking about now, is atonement, in line with the lenten period”.
Continuing, Obinna further said, “as an elder statesman, I believe the best thing for Owerri zone to do, is to align with and support Okigwe zone to complete their 8-year tenure, so that it will be easy for them to also have an 8-year tenure thereafter. However, if Owerri zone fails to align with Okigwe zone in 2027, then the latter will be compelled to form an alliance with Orlu zone”.
He blamed religious and selfish political leaders who mischievously orchestrated the false propaganda by the church adding that, “it is unfortunate that even our leaders at all levels swallow whatever their Reverend Fathers and Pastors say, hook, line and sink. That is why Owerri zone is where it is today politically.
If we don’t fix the injustice of 2011, we can’t make any headway with the charter of equity. Justice and fairness demand that the first injustice should be corrected before moving forward. And it is necessary we stick to the person that is legally and constitutionally entitled to just one 4-year tenure.
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