. . . Owerri, Okigwe zones lay claim to guber seat, advise Orlu zone to respect equity

By EKEH CHIZOBA, Owerri

Palpable tension has engulfed Imo State as some members of the Imo State Council of Elders allegedly exchanged hot blows after a failed attempt to endorse Senator Hope Uzodinma for second term as Governor of the state.

An insider source revealed that Chairman of the Council, His Royal Highness, Eze Cletus Ilomanya, convened an emergency meeting of the Council to brainstorm on major issues affecting the state, not knowing that he had a predetermined agenda to foist on members on Wednesday, April 13, 2023.

This Correspondent who monitored the proceedings, revealed that some loyalists of Governor Uzodinma tried to hijack the meeting but met stiff resistance immediately the issue of Imo Charter of Equity was brought on the table for discussion.

In a bid to protect Uzodinma’s interest, two elder statesmen, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, clashed over which zone should be considered first in the Charter, since Orlu has taken 20 out of the 24 years since democracy returned to the state.

It was further gathered that trouble started when efforts by some All People's Congress (APC)-induced elders tried to foreclose the idea that Okigwe and Owerri zones should not contest in the November 11 governorship election in the state, an attempt that made the meeting to end in deadlock.

Speaking to select journalists shortly after the meeting, a prominent member of the Elders Council from Orlu zone who preferred anonymity frowned at some of his colleagues for trading with the security of lives and property of Imo people on the altar of selfishness and greed.

He called on well-meaning members of the Council who resisted the move to endorse Uzodinma for a second term to ignore any communique that may be issued by enemies of the state to purport to represent the overall view of members, adding that no reasonable fecision was agreed upon in the meeting.

The meeting had in attendance, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Prof Maurice Iwu, Mike Okori, General Sunday Chikwe, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, Chief Onyogasi (Ok200), Hon. Maxwell Duru, Prince Lemmy Akakem, Justice B.A Njemanze, Chief Goddy Ibekwe, Hon Noel Aguocha Chukwukadibia, and Ambassador Eddy Onuoha.

Others were Louis Alozie (SAN), Bishop Stanford Nworgu, HRH Eze Jude Obidegwu, HRH Eze Mike Nwosu, Sir Mike Obioha, Chief Alex Mbakwe, Engr Sonnie Hart-Ibeh, HRH Eze Akano, Prof Osy Nwebo, Most Rev Dr David Onuoha, Chief M.O Nlemigbo, Chief Ostia Nwanebu, Barr Peter Mgbenwelu, Sir Ambrose Ejiogu, Chief Henry Njoku, Prof Edna Mathew Njoku, HRH Eze Jude Obidiegwu, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, and Bishop Divine Eches (Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman).