by Kelechi Anomah
In the last election, Ndi Igbo were robbed of a glaring victory and we all lamented and complained.
Our brothers and sisters in the Orlu and Okigwe zone joined those in Owerri and all of Igboland, to lament the marginalization of Ndi Igbo when Tinubu was declared the winner of an election the world knew Peter Obi won.
We questioned why we are still called Nigerians when we are denied the right to lead the country.
But then let me ask you, what moral right do you have as an Orlu or Okigwe man or woman, to lament and complain against the Nigerian state for marginalization, when you have been doing the same thing to your own Igbo brothers and sisters in Owerri zone?
In case you choose to forget, let’s walk down memory lane if we must.
The first elected Governor of Imo State, the late Chief Sam Mbakwe was from Okigwe zone and served for four complete years before he was removed by Buhari.
Chief Evan Enwerem from Owerri zone served for less than a year when Babangida tried to return Nigeria to civil rule, before Sani Abacha struck and sacked him.
When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, the late Barr. Humphrey Anumudu from Owerri zone emerged as the winner of the primaries PDP and would have eventually become governor of Imo State but when leaders of the state appealed to him to allow our brothers and sisters from Orlu to rule since they have never sat on that seat before, in the spirit of love and brotherhood, Anumudu made that ultimate sacrifice and by his death, never became governor of Imo State.
What more sacrifice could have been bigger than this that a brother could make for his brother? Owerri zone made this sacrifice for Orlu and Okigwe allowing them to come first even when we could have started off first.
Chief Achike Udenwa who wasn’t even in the picture for governorship, would emerge from Orlu, and as a gentleman he is, after serving for eight years, would hand power over to Okigwe as was the agreement.
Unfortunately, Dr Ikedi Ohakim couldn’t hold on the power after spending four years in office, largely because his own people from Okigwe chiefly amongst them, a former senator, fought him to standstill. Ohakim took his eyes off the ball allowing Rochas Okorocha from Orlu to slip in through the backdoor.
Okorocha, who remains the worst thing ever to happen to Imo State tried not just to continue Orlu rule, but turn Imo into his family business.
God helped us weather that storm.
Owerri was given another chance in 2019 but we all saw as that went.
In total, while Orlu have ruled Imo for 24 years and Okigwe 8, Owerri have not sat in that seat for up to two years in total.
Is it fair? Tell yourself the truth, is it fair?
Today, Governor Hope Uzodimma has pledge to back Owerri Zone come 2027 and I am hoping that he would be a man of his words and leave a legacy.
But I have my doubts. If a man who is almost like an aide to Uzodinma (even though he was a former governor), would come out to undermine Uzodinma’s words, it makes me wonder if there is really men of honor left.
Is Uzodinma a man of honor? We are watching and posterity will tell.
Unfortunately, some people have started singing that emi loko slogan in Okigwe, claiming it is their turn.
They are not making the claim on behalf of Okigwe zone, the claim is a selfish one-man desire to get into power and do nothing in four years but fill his pockets because I’m trying to make sense of what he hopes to achieve in four years when he couldn’t do it in the first four he was given.
Now I ask you again, how can you accuse the Nigerian state of marginalization when you are doing it to your own people?
Do to others what you want them to do to you. If you believe that what is being done to your own blood brothers and sisters in Owerri zone is fair, may that same coin be served to you in all your dealing, but if you are a just and upright person and believe it is time to right a wrong, I call on you my brothers and sisters in Orlu and Okigwe zone, let’s join hands and ensure Owerri zone is given a fair treatment come 2027 by helping up produce a governor we can all be proud of.