From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Mr Emeka Udokporo, an engineer is the former chairman of lhiagwa Town Management Committee made up of Ihiagwa Autonomous Community and Dindi lhiagwa Autonomous Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
He has been at the forefront of the mantle of leadership coming to Owerri zone in 2028 in line with the Imo Charter of Equity. However, despite Govetnor Hope Uzodimma’s hint of relinquishing power to the zone, Okigwe and Orlu have started kicking strongly against the governor’s preference. In this interview with Sunday Sun, the consultant engineer and a fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineer , COREN, explained why Owerri zone must produce the Imo governor in 2028.
Some groups have started emerging from Okigwe zone, claiming that it’s their turn to produce the next governor of the state, they also claimed equity should have started from Ikedi Ohakim who incidentally is from their zone ,do you think that they are right?
They’re not right ,Ohakim did a complete four-year term before leaving the office, he contested and lost ,Owerri zone did not even complete one year before he was asked to leave , so where is the equity according to Ogbonnaya Onu, there is no equity; it must begin with Owerri zone, let us do the four years that Okigwe did and then we would look at the equity; let’s do four years and God’s willing we do another four years and then it goes to them ,then it can return to Orlu.
But most of the people in the state are claiming that the disruption of Ohakim’s tenure is what is negating the equity?
Ohakim’s tenure wasn’t short lived, he did a complete four years term, so between Ohakim and Ihedioha ,which tenure is short lived ,is it the person that did less than one year or the person that did four years? He did a full term of four years,contested and failed ,but for us Ihedioha won ,the court asked him to go in less than one year ,so where is the justice? So, they should be fair, as a matter of fact ,if they want to field a candidate, let them bring their best and then let’s see who’s right . If they want to run for governor, they should look at equity ,not necessarily bringing out their best,they should allow us do that four years that they did ,between Ihedioha’s six months and Ohakim’s four years, compare two of them and see who performed better than the other.
Why don’t you help us to do the comparison?
We’re all Imolites and witnessed governance of both persons ,in the general analysis one must have performed better than another within the mentioned periods.
So, Owerri zone can’t sacrifice this controversial Ohakim’s term for Okigwe zone for peace to reign?
The good thing going for us is that the incumbent, Senator Hope Uzodimma has publicly declared that he would handover to an Owerri zone man and we believe him and we’re supporting him 100 per cent in all his programmes to ensure his tenure is hitch-free ,we would applaud him and we would also pray for him ,so that he would actualise what he has promised Owerri zone ,is the best thing that will happen to Ndi Imo, it’s also the best thing that will happen to Owerri zone, let them give us a chance, after all where is the Government House? The Government House is in the land of Owerri, that’s the Douglas House , we can’t be tenants again and then have we ever been there before ,have we enjoyed governance? No ,so let them give us a chance ,this is real “it’s our turn” but then let our best go for us that’s the point we’re making, it’s no longer politics as usual .
Now, talking about our best ,who and who can you say it’s your best, can you help us drop some names?
It’s left for Imolites to decide, between Ohakim and Ihedioha, who did better ,that’s the point I’m making .
Can you mention one or two who you think can go for the zone?
Ihedioha did well within his short period ,we’re all living witnesses to that ,however, this is the turn of Owerri zone ,he has the right to come out again and it’s left for Ndi Owerri to decide who will go for them ,a criteria would be laid down and then we would use the criteria as a template to decide who fits into that template ,for instance, has the person been indicted before ,has the person been involved in any fraud at all anywhere ,the person where he is coming from ,what’s the perception of the people about him , how’s the person seen in Owerri ,in Imo, if he has held positions in the past we have to evaluate those positions, and how he managed them . There’re lots of things we have to use as yardstick , this is no longer the era of 419 ,Yahoo Yahoo , this is the time you have to come out and say this is who am I and people will see you the way you are and then be convinced from your antecedent you fit into this template ,beyond that you will still face a debate .
Alright sir ,since you don’t want to drop names, there are some rumours making the rounds that people like Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho and likes of Emeka Ihedioha may be the hottest favourites?
I do not know about who and who will or will not come out ,but for Captain, I don’t think he’s coming out ,he’s a man of honour , we respect him, he’s galvanising the Owerri zone to come together and produce our best ,I don’t think he’s interested, he said he’s not interested ,that I can tell you for sure.
We know Owerri zone comprises so many areas, like we have the municipal, which particular area from the zone are we expecting the candidate should come from?
Owerri Nchi Ise is a minute area from Owerri zone ,if we’re talking about Owerri zone, we look at the local governments ,we also have three local governments that make up the zone, we also have Aboh Mbaise ,Ezinihitte Mbaise and Ahiazu Mbaise, we also look at Ikeduru area, in all I think we have about nine local governments ,anybody can come from these zones,the consultations and meetings we’ve been having are from these zones .
Away from the Owerri zone 2028, let’s look at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, how do you think it has faired under Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu?
We read everyday the activities of Ohanaeze under Chief Iwuanyanwu, trying to create awareness that there is existence of this body ,but then it’s the implementation of the agenda of Ndigbo in terms of governance that I’m bothered about ,what are the programmes of Ndigbo for Ndigbo, that I’m yet to see, so the Ohanaeze Ndigbo should come out with convincing programmes ,things that would make us see that they’re really representing us ,they should be championing the course of Ndigbo ,so far they’re creating awareness and we applaud them .
What major role do you want the group to play now for Southeast, some people have talked about it intervening on Nnamdi Kanu’s release, what’s your main concern?
Well, my major concern I want them to be involved in is the welfare of Ndigbo in Lagos State ,they should improve on their relationship between their host , I said this because they’re suffering so much ,the business people in Lagos are suffering, they should find a meeting point to resolve all issues between them and their hosts ,I think that there is a disconect between the two ,Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be able to champion it ,they should bring the importers, traders together and then discuss their problems with the leadership of the place and let there be peace in Lagos,we’re one country so that they can do business wherever they are. Once that is achieved, the it’s a plus for Ohanaeze . On releasing Kanu, well Ohanaeze is the apex body of the Ndigbo, let them decide.