The Ndi Imo Defenders, a socio-cultural group, has rejected calls from opposition parties urging Governor Hope Uzodinma to withdraw from his re-election bid in favor of candidates from the Owerri Zone for the upcoming November 11 governorship election.
Stan Ezugu, the group’s President, emphasized in a press statement on Sunday that such a call could jeopardize the established Imo Charter of Equity, which was agreed upon by the state’s elders and stakeholders. This charter outlines a rotational governorship system among the three senatorial zones of Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri, with each zone holding the position for eight years.
The group reminded the governorship candidates that the Imo Elders’ Council, in a policy statement, had urged other contenders in the November 2023 election to allow Uzodimma to complete Orlu’s eight-year tenure before transitioning to Owerri, ensuring a seamless implementation of the policy.
Mr. Ezugu stressed that the Imo State Charter of Equity is a political agreement aimed at ensuring equitable representation in the state’s governance. He emphasized the significance of this charter for the state’s political stability, unity, and the well-being of its diverse population. The group firmly believes that no individual or group should be allowed to disrupt this innovative policy.
He further expressed that rather than criticizing Uzodimma, the governor should be commended for supporting the charter, considering that such an arrangement had been elusive in the state for many years.
“The Imo State Charter of Equity plays a crucial role in promoting fairness, unity, stability, and development within the state. By adhering to the principles of the charter, Imo State can harness the collective potential of its diverse population and work towards a more prosperous and harmonious future, and we strongly believe the potential this policy holds should not be allowed to be eroded by the greed of a group of people who don’t value the prosperity of Ndi Imo.
“The charter has provided a clear part for stability; the governor has stated clearly that he is committed to this arrangement, and that is why you will not see any candidate from the Orlu zone contesting for the governorship in 2027. It has been agreed that it will be the turn of the Owerri zone. The process will be streamlined so that the contest will be limited to a particular zone and political parties will only need to produce their candidates from that zone, and we are not going to have this rancour and lamentation of marginalisation again. This is an arrangement that should have been put in place a long time ago, and we have to commend Governor Uzodinma for endorsing the initiative by the Elders Council,” he said.
The group has also said Governor Uzodimma’s administration has not shown any form of lopsidedness in the appointments and distribution of developmental amenities such as health, education, and road infrastructure, among others.
“Uzodimma has pursued his shared prosperity agenda with vigour and equity; we have seen his signature all over the state in terms of infrastructure and project distribution. He cannot be seen to have favoured one zone ahead of others, not only in terms of projects but appointments too,” he said.
