- * Says It's Time To Halt Marginalization of Okigwe People
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief) @CelestineOkaf11
Billionaire businessman from Okigwe Senatorial zone in Imo state, South East, Nigeria, Chief Tony Chukwu, at the weekend, renewed his campaign for power rotation in the state, insisting that the governorship seat of Imo should shift from Owerri and Orlu zones to Okigwe area.
Chukwu used the occasion of this year's Palm Sunday to relaunch his power rotation campaign which he did on the platform of lmo State Charter of Equity Conversations.
He spoke after the Palm Sunday service at the reception lunch organized for the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, which was hosted by one of Nigeria's famous global IT guru and founding owner of ZINOX Group, Chief Leo Stan Eke.
The IT Company boss, Leo Stan Eke, who thought the event was a fertile ground for him to assert the claim by his Owerri Zone to produce governor Uzodimma's successor on January 15, 2028, was however supplanted by Chief Tony Chukwu who promptly stood up to counter his claim that it is the turn of Okigwe Zone to produce the next lmo governor.
Chukwu maintained that Okigwe people will not relinquish their chance again to Owerri Zone, their greatest challenger in the governorship bid. He insisted that it is about time the years of political marginalization of his zone, Okigwe, stopped. He stated that the principle of power rotation in Nigeria enables zones to develop their areas.
Chief Tony Chukwu who is renown for his forthrightness and deep christian faith, used the solemnity of the lenten season in his submissions, admonishing Imo people to use this Holy Week to reflect upon Okigwe's quest for equity in the zonalization of power calculus in the state.
He argued that it will be politically immoral and downright unjust if the power rotation understanding in Imo state reached since the inception of the present democratic dispensation in 1999 does not factor the turn of Okigwe zone as governor Uzodimma's replacement in 2028.
Chief Chukwu equally argued that the bulk of the state's allocation is spent on Owerri Zone and that most developmental initiatives are concentrated in the Owerri zonal axis, including education, health and social infrastructure.
He mounted a counter narrative to Chief Leo Stan Eke's position in favour of his Owerri zone, stating that Okigwe Zone lags behind Owerri and Orlu Zones in all human development index. According to him, this reality, therefore, needs a tested and competent person from the zone (Okigwe) as successor to governor Uzodimma.
The billionaire business mogul, Chukwu, also canvassed that, "Owerri Zone should concede the capital of this state (Imo) to Okigwe Zone and then take the governorship position, if they so want".
The audience had in attendant captains of industry, traditional rulers like Eze Ilomuanya who is also the Chairman of Imo State Council of Elders and Eze Dr Oliver Ohanwe, the Chairman of Okigwe Elders Global Forum. There are Capt Emmanual Iheanacho and Chief Jerry Chukwueke, amongst many other dignitaries from the state.
The host Dr Leo Stan Eke and his lovely wife, Mrs Chioma Eke, gave a fabulous and lavish entertainment in honour of governor Hope Uzodimma and his entourage. The event was indeed an afternoon of great social interactions and political conversations. NNL.
