Imo Equity: Iwuanyanwu, Dan Nwanyanwu missed it, Uzodimma should step aside

 

By Ogechi Eziukwu

I watched the interview granted our brother, who doubles as the Presidential candidate and National Chairman of Zenith Labour Party, Mr. Dan Nwanyanwu on ChannelsTV recently, and despite the fact that at some point, he was making sense, Nwanyanwu, probably because of sentiments or owing to what his pocket stands to gain (or have gained), deliberately decided to muddle the truth.

Let me state this without mincing words, anybody talking about equity in Imo State, must first  do away with the idea of Governor Hope Uzodimma appearing on the ballot of any political party come the 2023 General Elections.

Anybody talking about Equity and Justice in Imo State, must delete the idea of any Orlu man or woman, appearing as candidate of any political party for the Governorship seat in Imo State.

I was surprised and almost happy when I read a report claiming that the new President General of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu had distanced himself from the endorsement of Senator Hope Uzodimma for a second tenure but reading this morning that he actually denied the report, and basked Uzodimma didn't come as a surprise to me as indeed, Iwuanyanwu didn't change in character.

It's always been about personal interest for him and I wouldn't have expected anything different from him.

Just like he was always praising former governor Rochas Okorocha who can be ascribed the title of being the worst governor in Imo history, possibly to protect his personal interest then, the self-ascribed billionaire is back to singing praise and worship to Hope Uzodimma, his latest benefactor while equity, fairness and justice are crucified on the table of selfishness.

For Nwanyanwu, it was obvious he was dancing to the tones of Uzodimma who everybody knows is his benefactor.

It's unfortunate that yet again, Owerri zone is being betrayed by Ikeduru sons, who we erroneously ascribed the roles of leaders.

Governor Hope Uzodimma wants to paint that picture of a man of his words. He wants to paint the picture of a man who upholds equity and justice. Even his party the All Progressives Congress APC, tries to tell us that they are in support of equity in the sharing of power, which is why they presented former Lagos State governor, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as their candidate.

Now I ask, why would Hope Uzodimma, after supporting zoning, just as I heard he did in the case of MBAIKE where he allegedly made his former aide, Innocent Ikpamezie, to step down because according to zoning, it was Ikeduru's turn, now accept to go for another term in office, when he knows he is doing grave injustice to the people of Owerri Zone?

Some people may ask, why Owerri and I say, why not Owerri?

Democratically, Owerri zone had suffered the most and have been gravely marginalised and if you are complaining about the marginalisation of Ndi Igbo, without putting the situation of Ndi Owerri into your argument, you are not a fair person.

Chief Sam Mbakwe who is from Obowo in Okigwe Zone served as the first democratically elected governor of Imo State, a position he held for four years before he and the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration were removed when they were about the start their second term in office.

Chief Evan Enwerem barely stayed in power as governor of Imo State for a year and six months but in 1999, out of our compassion for our brothers from Orlu, the people of Owerri pressured our brother, the late Humphrey Anumudu, who won the Governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, to step down for our brothers in Orlu, giving Chief Achike Udenwa, who was then contesting for House of Representatives position, the chance to become governor of Imo State.

With that alone, have Owerri not shown love? Why then is Orlu paying us back with a different coin?

Dr. Ikedi Ohakim from Okigwe Zone took over from Udenwa and spent a complete four years in office before he was unfortunately removed from office.

The closest we in Owerri Zone have come since then is the illegal administration of Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, which constitutionally cannot be counted for Owerri zone, since by law, Ihedioha was never a governor of Imo State, which means that Owerri zone have only been office for barely a year and six months.

I understand why Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Dan Nwanyanwu along with their so-called elders and their so-called Charter of Equity, would endorse Hope Uzodimma for a second tenure.

The white man will say, he who pays the Piper dictates the tones and one doesn't expect the duo, who are comfortably packaged in Hope Uzodimma's pocket for their survive, to speak otherwise.

Unless Hope Uzodimma is calling himself a liar, by accepting the Charter of Equity for rotation of power which he announced to Ndi Imo, Uzodimma should forthwith, step down from the Governorship contest and allow a candidate from Owerri zone, to emerge for the APC.

Anything short of this, portrays Governor Hope Uzodimma as a man whose words are not his bond and a man who cannot be trusted.

On Dan Nwanyanwu's comments, the disgruntled former National Chairman of Labour Party, who is pained that he wasn't in office when his former party enjoyed the goodwill it got from the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi, is one man who is never taken seriously in the state as I'm sorry to use the word, a nonentity as far as Imo people are concerned.

Take a stroll on any street in Imo State or even his hometown Ikeduru and mention the name Dan Nwanyanwu and I assure you, out of a thousand people you ask, you may probably meet one person who knows that name Dan Nwanyanwu.

How then, can a man who is not known in his hometown, speak for his people?

Ogechi Eziukwu writes from Mbaise Nation