…Pushes its 2027 political agenda with renewed hope
By Njoku Macdonald Obinna
In its collective resolve to rigorously pursue, push, and protect the political interest of Isu people for a common developmental advancement through inclusive governance; an emerging but powerful socio-cultural and political group in Orlu zone, Isu Nation Convention, on Friday, June 7, 2024, convoked enlarged stakeholders roundtable meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Isu Nation Convention, INC, a non- political party group, led by Dr. Batos Nwadike; a boardroom strategist, scholar, and former Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Imo State governor, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, CON, deliberated extensively on the issues of governance, peace, progress, power shift and the need to zone the 2027 Imo governorship seat to Isu Nation, arguing that it is the only clan in the history of Imo State that is yet to produce a governor or senator before and since the inception of modern democracy in 1999.
In what appeared more like a Barrack Obama- electrified speech during his remarks, the convener of Isu Nation Convention, Chief Dr. Batos Nwadike (Oyi of Igboland), proactively pushed the political initiative which is fast gathering unprecedented momentum as a mass movement, calling on the good people of Isu clan comprising Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba, and half of Orlu, to rise up to the challenge of rallying round their best first 11 with capacity in the likes of Ikenna Power Okoro, Rt. Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna (OZB), Chief Emeka Iwunze (Ozodi), Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, Chief Mike Ikeokwu (All Seasons), Dr. Batos Nwadike, and projecting them for the Imo governorship seat, Orlu senatorial seat, chairmen of juicy federal government boards and even ministerial slot since equity demands that: “ What is jointly owned should be jointly shared, maintaining that peace in the absence of peace is no peace . “ Dr. Nwadike , however, affirmed rather in strong terms that one cannot talk about Charter of Equity when a particular strategic ancient clan in Imo State among sister clans is yet to taste the governorship seat or produce the senator of her zone.
Taking the stakeholders and membership of Isu Nation Convention through memory lane, Dr. Nwadike in nostalgic observed with reference the various Imo illustrious sons that had emerged as governors and the clans they came from in the following order below:
His Excellency, Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, Ph.D (1979- 1983), represented Etiti clan as Governor.
His Excellency, Chief Evan Enwerem (1991- 1992), represented Owerri clan.
His Excellency, Chief Achike Udenwa (1999- 2007), represented Orsu clan.
His Excellency, Chief Ethelbert Rochas Okorocha (2011- 2019), represented Ideato clan.
His Excellency, Chief Ikedi Ohakim (2007- 2011), represented Mbano clan.
His Excellency, Chief Emeka Ihedioha (May 2019 Jan. 2020), represented Mbaise clan.
His Excellency, Chief Hope Uzodimma (2020 till date), is representing Oru clan.
In a communiqué signed by the group; a copy which was made available to the Publisher of 4th Estate Reporters, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, and also sent to the press, the stakeholders of Isu Nation Convention unanimously and irrevocably resolved inter alia:
• Agreed that Isu clan is lagging far behind in the political landscape of Imo and Nigeria through deliberate and systematic exclusion in the power sharing formular.
• That 2027 is her turn to produce the next Imo governor based on the aforementioned natural zoning centred on clan.
• Issued an irrevocable fiat to Isu clan’s prominent sons to throw themselves up for the Imo governorship seat, Orlu senatorial seat, and ministerial slot of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• Enjoined the Imo State governor His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodimma to look deeper and correct the imbalances in the interest of domestic peace.
• Declared that peace in the absence of peace is no peace.
In the light of above, therefore, another critical stakeholder of Isu Nation Convention; an erudite scholar, a university Don, and former Deputy governorship candidate in Imo State, Prof. Protus Uzomah, aligning with the letters and strong advocacy of INC Group for a power shift to Isu Clan which has neither produced a governor nor senator, maintained that the continued deliberate marginalization of Isu clan can be best described as encouraging political enthnocentrism by other clans in Imo which usually breeds domestic rivalry as the stakeholders called on the Imo governor , Sen. Hope Uzodimma , for true equity in power sharing before the Charter of Equity which Isu Nation Convention as a political pressure group has distanced itself from.
In his address, Hon. Chino Obioha, a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly and critical stakeholder in the political leadership of Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency, appluaded the convener of INC Group, Dr. Batos Nwadike, for his indepth scholarly research on the political leadership genealogy of the old Isu ancient clan and the need to come together to pursue a common cause of power shift to Isu clan for the interest of equity, fairness, and good conscience. He however, saluted the resilence of the convener, Batos Nwadike, for the timely convergence of such political pressure group assuring him of the support of Njaba people and her leadership, calling for expanded meeting and robust awareness of the group’s subsequent activities.
Comr. Ukachukwu Anyaegbu, Nwangele born grassroots political mobilizer and community leader, commended the timely convergence of the Isu Nation Convention with a particular emphasis on unity of purpose in aggressively galvanizing the needed support across the clan to push the idea before the next electioneering seasonj. According to him; “ It’s an idea whose time has come. “
The colorful and purpose- driven INC Stakeholders round table meeting had in attendance delegates from the four and a half local government areas of Isu extraction of Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba and part of Orlu neighbouring town; as each local government was represented by five delegates, a president general of town union, and a major stakeholder.
The crémé of the stakeholders of Isu clan leadership that was in attendance as captured by 4th Estate Reporters included but not limited to;
– Chief Dr. Batos Nwadike (Oyi of Igboland)
Convener|Interim President -General,
Isu Nation Convention.
– Hon. Izuchukwu Ejiogu
– Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum
Governor, United Isu Progressives Union (UIPU)
– Prof. Protus Nathan Uzoma
– Barr. Kenneth Iwunze
– Sir Uche Obilor (Representative of Ikenna Power Okoro).
– Hon. Emeka Onwumere
– Hon. Chino Obioha (Representative of Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo).
– Hon. Uchendu Anthony
Chairman, Action Alliance , Imo State.
– Chief Val Oosuoha
– Hon. Dr. Mrs. Adaobi Ijeomah
– Hon. Eziefule Francis .
– Chief Charles Okonkwo
– Chief Onyeka J. C.
– Comr. Ukachukwu Anyaegbu
– Ms. Favour Nwadike, among others.
The epoch-making and historical Isu Nation Convention’s meeting ended in an atmosphere of social convivality and that of reflection as the group plans for its official inauguration.