As the race for next governor of Imo State hots up, Governor Hope Uzodimma has called on political leaders and the people of Owerri zone to stop overheating the polity and allow him work.
Uzodimma said this during a courtesy visit by leaders from Owerri zone at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Council Chambers, the Imo State capital on Monday.
The governor said he still had three years to work as the number one citizen even as he maintained that he believes in the charter of equity.
“I believe in the Charter of Equity,” he said, maintaining that it had become a legislative document, with a bill on it passed into law by the Imo State House of Assembly.
He emphasised that they should not overheat the polity so that he can continue to develop Imo State as the charter of equity is not to serve individuals purposes but rather the zone.
Imo Elders Council had just just before the 2023 elections drafted a charter of equity wherein they agreed that the Owerri zone will produce the next governor of the state. It has however generated dust as Okigwe zone argued that their tenure was truncated in 2011, saying they want to complete the remaining four years.
Uzodimma said the political problem of Owerri zone was both internal and external, noting that to overcome such issues the people must create an atmosphere of peace, unity, tolerance, awareness, reconcile and be your brother’s keeper, adding that they should shun personal interests.
Further, he called on them to reconcile, come together and work as a team if they are desirous of succeeding in their quest to have his successor come from Owerri zone.
He said “Let us separate individual interest from collective interest” adding that they should “go home, reconcile and unite” themselves.
He regretted that what was being practised in Nigeria was partisan politics, maintaining that he will support his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and her candidate when the time to choose his successor comes.
He said the person that will succeed him must be able to drive the people’s agenda and not his own agenda saying “I will not solve all the problems of Imo state, but the person coming after me must be able to solve some,” the governor stated.
The governor expressed appreciation for the accolades given to him by the leaders and people of Owerri zone, saying that he will not take it for granted and promised to work hard saying “I will continue to work hard in order to live up to your expectations.”
He said that before his emergence as the governor, Imo state had lost its glory and was faced with insecurity challenges, and expressed joy and gratitude to God that the situation had changed saying “Imo has been recovered to the glory of God”.
The leader of the delegation, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho commended the governor for the wonderful works he was doing in Owerri zone. He said that “the governor is performing absolutely well, especially in the quality of road constructions going on across all zones of the state.”
Captain Iheanacho recalled that since 1999, Nigeria transitioned from military rule to civil democracy, Owerri zone was yet to occupy the position of governnor for four years running, saying it was most fair to recognise based on the charter of equity, that Owerri zone produces the next governor after Uzodimma.
Other leaders in their contributions like Amb. Kema Chikwe and Gen. C.R.V. Ihekire, also thanked the governor for the opportunity given to them to come and interact with him and reaffirmed that Owerri zone believed in the charter of equity.
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