For the people of Owerri and Orlu senatorial zones of Imo State, Friday, June 20, 2014, will ever remain fresh on their minds. To them, it was a day of destiny, a day exemplified by unity of purpose, a day of honour and a day that began the eventual restoration of Imo State in the coming political dispensation. It was a day chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, with thousands of their followers, visited the Orlu zone, which is under the leadership of former governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa.

Breaking of barriers

Feelers from that event indicated that the forum provided a platform for breaking of barriers and forging of political cooperation between the two zones, the end of which they hope will see the incumbent governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), out of office come 2015.

The delegation from Owerri zone, led by the South East member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and President General of Owerri Peoples Assembly, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, also included Deputy President General of Owerri Peoples Assembly, Air Commodore Luke Ochulor (rtd); first Military Administrator of Delta State, Gen. Ogbonna, the Owerri zone Chairman of PDP, Nnanna Igbokwe; House of Representatives member representing Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ambrose Ejiogu; a respected elder statesman and leader of Owerri zone, Alex Obi; former state chairman of PDP, Ngozi Pat-Ekeji and Minority Leader of Imo State House of Assembly, Samuel Anyanwu (Samdaddy) representing Ikeduru Constituency in the state House of Assembly.

Also on the list are Ernest Ibejiako, former member of the House of Representatives, Alex Emeziem and Oliver Enwerenem, former members of the state House of Assembly; Gen. Chikwe (rtd), former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army, all PDP chairmen of the nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Owerri zone, with their leaders and an array of leaders of interest groups from Owerri zone too numerous to be listed.

According to a political scientist, social analyst and a leader of PDP in Aboh Mbaise, Dennis Adikwuru, who was part of the delegation and spoke to CEOAFRICA on the visit, the unity of Owerri zone delegation was exhibited by the presence of virtually all the PDP aspirants from the zone. These, according to him, included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senator Chris Anyanwu; Jerry Chukwueke; Bethel Amadi; Humphrey Anumudu; Senator Bright Nwanne; Emma Ojinere; Ken Njemanze; Prof. Jude Njoku; Bethel Nzirimako; Charles Onyeagbakor; Chief (Mrs) Clara Njoku; Chuka Odom, among others.

 The first PDP State Chairman, I.D. Nwoga, who was away to Enugu on South East political concerns, sent a solidarity letter, which was read by Dr. Alex Obi.

Charting the way forward

Udenwa’s expansive country home was filled beyond capacity as over 1,500 eminent leaders of the two zones converged to chart the way forward for the state, a mission Chief Iwuanyanwu said was meant to “reshape Imo and return the state into a full recovery of losses.”

The Orlu zone leaders, playing host to their Owerri counterparts, included the chief host and Apex Leader, Udenwa; Dr. Douglas Acholonu, former deputy governor of the state; Eze Duruiheoma, immediate past state Chairman of PDP and presently Chairman of the National Population Commission; Justice Paul Onumajuru, former Chief Judge of the state; Gerald Ironna, member of the House of Representatives, Chief G.O. Osuchukwu and a host of other leaders.

Orlu political stalwart, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, sent a solidarity message through Hon Ironna, who represents his federal constituency. According to Ironna, Nzeribe had only returned from overseas medical treatment the previous night and could not make the meeting.

Addressing the large gathering, Iwuanyanwu described the day as offering his happiest moment such that has manifested the oneness and unity of Owerri people in their common pursuit for the occupation of Douglas House. Iwuanyanwu recalled that years back, distinguished Imo leaders had gathered at Udenwa’s residence, which he described as ‘Imo Shrine’, and took certain decisions, which transformed the state. The day’s gathering, according to Iwuanyanwu, “will reshape Imo and return the state into a full recovery of losses.” He extolled the virtues of the Udenwa administration between 1999 and 2007, which he said, provided good leadership for the state.

Iwuanyanwu described the visit as a cultural one representing the aspirations of the entire Owerri people as it affects their destiny in the contemporary socio-political and economic development of the state.

According to the Owerri leader, the motive of the visit was to consult with their Orlu brethren, consultation of which he said has been a democratic tenet which makes the people’s opinion superior to any individual opinion. Iwuanyanwu, while restating the support of Owerri zone to the quest for a state out of the present Imo State revealed that the ongoing National Conference has recommended an additional state for the South East.

Iwuanyanwu went down memory lane to justify the zoning request of Owerri people, which he affirmed as a constitutional demand known at the national level as federal character, for purposes of equity, justice and fairness. This principle, Iwuanyanwu said, goes down to the state and local government levels under the present democratic dispensation.

Iwuanyanwu referred to the Babangida days of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), when Owerri zone fielded candidates for the NRC and SDP in the persons of Chief Evan Enwerem and Prof. Fabian Osuji respectively, which brought in Enwerem (now late) with Dr. Douglas Acholonu as his deputy.

Also in 1999, the two leading parties, the All Peoples Party (APP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fielded Orlu candidates in the persons of Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu and Udenwa, which brought later as governor.

In 2007, Iwuanyanwu continued, Okigwe zone took its turn with the emergence of Ikedi Ohakim, having contested under PPA, while Senator Ifeanyi Ararume was fielded by PDP. Iwuanyanwu however distanced himself from the fireworks that brought in Ohakim, though an Okigwe man. Ohakim’s administration, according to Iwuanyanwu, “brought us to where we are today.”

Reference had earlier been made of the Second Republic era of 1979 to 1983 when Chief Sam Mbakwe (now late) of Okigwe zone called the shots. The emergence of Rochas Okorocha of Orlu zone in 2011 has increased the governance tenure of Orlu zone to 12 years.

Pushing for Owerri’s turn

The analysis of the aforementioned zoning arrangements shows that Orlu zone has governed the state for 12 years, Okigwe zone for nine years, while Owerri zone partook for only 18 months. This analogy puts Owerri zone in a rightful demand for the support of Orlu and Okigwe zones for “justice, equity and fairness”. Iwuanyanwu said Owerri zone is “seriously primed and taking it to the churches, markets and streets,” as he called on Orlu people to support all political parties to field candidates from Owerri zone in the 2015 election.

Subsequently, Iwuanyanwu called on Ambrose Ejiogu to make presentations to their hosts on behalf of Owerri zone. Swiftly, Ejiogu presented 12 Igbo kolanuts, 12 packs of wine and 12 cows for the 12 LGAs of Orlu zone as a mark of honour, custom and tradition to Orlu people. Ejiogu said that Owerri people are united as a people in the visit and mission and was delighted that the cream of Orlu leadership was also present to receive them. There was a thunderous applause and jubilation from both zones as the presentation was made.

On the side of Owerri zone, Dr. Alex Obi, former PDP state Chairman, who produced an Orlu governor in the person of Udenwa, confirmed Iwuanyanwu’s speech and drew the attention of Orlu people to the calibre of the Owerri delegation and entire aspirants present at the event. Obi craved the integrity of Orlu people to reciprocate the gestures of Owerri zone in the spirit of good neighbourliness between the two zones. Dr. Obi also read the letter from Chief I.D. Nwoga, the first PDP state chairman who was away to Enugu but gave his solidarity to the visit.

Deputy President General of Owerri Peoples Assembly and former Military Administrator of Delta state, Air Commodore Luke Ochulor, while associating with Iwuanyanwu’s presentation, eulogised Udenwa as a man of peace and urged him to ensure the continued peaceful coexistence of the two zones.

The nation’s number six citizen and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, was at home with the submissions of Chief Iwuanyanwu and other speakers. So also Senator Chris Anyanwu, who said she came as senator representing Owerri zone in the Senate to affirm the position of Owerri people. Anyanwu said Owerri people hold Orlu people in a high esteem.

On the side of Orlu zone, first to speak was the former deputy governor of the state, Dr. Douglas Acholonu who said Owerri blessed him with children when he was deputy governor and so his heart goes for the demands of Owerri zone. Acholonu assured Owerri people of the support of Orlu people “to produce a governor of substance for the state”.

Immediate past state PDP Chairman and Chairman of National Population Commission, Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), described the visit of Owerri people as historic hence he shelved other engagements to attend it. He stated his satisfaction with the array of delegates and aspirants and therefore accepted the position of Owerri people.

Chief G.O. Osuchukwu was delighted at the quality of Owerri delegates and the unity of the aspirants and summarily assured that “Orlu zone will pay back Owerri zone with support.”

Also speaking, Hon. Gerald Ironna, a member of the House of Representatives, aligned himself and his federal constituency with the speeches and position of his people. He described Owerri people’s demand for political balancing as equitable, legitimate and fair and promised the solidarity of his people. According to Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, a political scientist, social analyst and a leader of Peoples Democratic Party in Aboh Mbaise, “our people of Owerri zone have realised that the 2015 Imo destiny is in our hands and so we united as one people with a common purpose of taking our rightful position in the governorship of the state come 2015 and reached out to the real leadership of Orlu zone, gave them a befitting honour of consultative visit and customary homage.”

Adikwuru said the visit to the people of Orlu zone under the leadership of former governor of the state; Chief Dr. Achike Udenwa “marks the beginning of the restoration of Imo state in the oncoming 2015 general elections”. Achike Udenwa, a two term governor of Imo state from 1999 to 2007 was also a federal minister and presently a member of the ongoing National Conference. His recent return to the Peoples Democratic Party in February this year has settled the controversy surrounding the leadership of Orlu zone which hitherto was being acclaimed by a serving senator from the zone.

Then came the turn of the big masquerade, the apex leader of Orlu people and former governor, Achike Udenwa, who expressed satisfaction at the composition and orderliness of the delegates. He said Owerri delegation cuts across the length and breadth, classes and strata of Owerri zone. He described the Orlu delegation as responsible people who represent the larger percentage of Orlu people. Udenwa stated that Orlu people will convene and deliberate on the requests and demands of Owerri people and come up with a consensus position. While acknowledging participating in earlier zoning arrangements as enunciated by Chief Iwuanyanwu, Udenwa also admitted that he is a beneficiary of the existing charter of equity. The former governor appealed for unity in the PDP and described it as “the secret of our dream victory come next year” maintaining that PDP must resolve to work together for victory to be possible. He counselled Owerri leaders to be focused on their collective demand and not to give open support to any single aspirant but prayed God to provide the right PDP candidate who will emerge victorious and give good governance to Imo state.

Finally, Udenwa promised to invite Owerri people for a comprehensive and consensus position of Orlu people in a short while.

With the visit of Owerri people to the centre of Orlu leadership, the stage is set for Owerri zone to receive the much needed support from Orlu people. The question, however, remains: can Owerri aspirants come together and allow the emergence of a popular and capable candidate?

To this Adikwuru responded that the quest for the emergence of a popular candidate has started with the visit. Adikwuru said the applause and reception that heralded the introduction of each of the aspirants at the meeting sent on-the-spot signals.

Not only this, Adikwuru said the people know their aspirants and the aspirants know themselves, their capabilities, their popularity and their capacities. “At the due time, the spirit of our collective aspiration will override individual aspirations and the candidate with commensurate capacities will emerge,” Adikwuru said.

On his assessment of the visit of Owerri leaders to Orlu, Adikwuru said it was “a huge success encapsulated in the unity of the people of Owerri under the indisputable leadership of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.”