-Allegedly Invites Imo Elders Ahead of 2027
– Succession Agenda Tops Discussion
The report that the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma who has continuously been absent from the state for a very long time, recently invited key government appointees and some elders to Abuja where he reportedly issued directives has elicited mixed reactions among Imo people who see the development as an aberration that is synonymous with running the affairs of the state from the Federal Capital Territory.
A Government House source who pleaded anonymity said governance in the state has been kept at abeyance due to the governor’s prolonged absence, hence most of his appointees now roam aimlessly without specific duties to perform only to collect their salaries at the end of the month. He also disclosed that the last time the weekly executive meeting was held was two weeks after the Governor was re-elected for a second tenure.
According to him, “the governor’s appointees are now hardly seen in or around their offices, as they now take directives through phone calls. Most times, when they call, the Governor does not respond. Honestly things have become that bad. It is unfortunate that a Governor who was elected to preside over the affairs of the state now spends more time in Abuja than in the state that should be his primary focus.
The source also hinted that though the agenda of the meeting he held with those he invited to Abuja is not known, there are indications that they discussed issues about his succession plan which he wants the Imo elders to buy into.
Some of those invited to Abuja according to Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner in Uzodinma’s cabinet are Chief Ambrose Ejiogu a known PDP Stalwart from Owerri zone, Barr Peter Mgbenwelu from Orlu zone and another PDP Chieftain from Okigwe zone. Efforts to reach those mentioned for comment on the development were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls put to their phones. But a reliable source said, they were invited to help mobilize Imo Elders and prepare their minds to support the Governor’s succession plan, ahead of the 2027 election, adding that Gov Uzodinma has already started packaging his preferred candidate but is doing it subtly. All he needs, according to the source, is to extract commitment and convince the powers that be at Abuja about the loyalty of his preferred candidate who is said to be a banker from Mbaise axis.
Some concerned Imolites who commented on the development expressed disappointment that the Governor now administers the state from Abuja, hence nothing is working.
A prominent leader in the state who expressed dismay about what is happening described it as a way of frittering away the state’s resources because those he invited to Abuja will pay hotel bills, pay for flight tickets and other extraneous expenses.
