Imo Charter Of Equity: Why I Sponsored Motion—- Eze Ohanweh——Says Okigwe zone most disadvantaged zone in Imo

 
The monarch and member of Imo State Council of Elders whose motion gave birth to the reintroduction of the Imo Charter of Equity in 2023,HRM Eze (Dr) Oliver Ohanweh, JP, has explained what motivated him into sponsoring and moving the motion which has now become the political slogan in Imo State.

According to Eze Ohanweh, who is the Chairman of Okigwe Global Elders Forum as well as the traditional ruler of Isiama ancient kingdom in Isiala Mbano local government area, he was propelled by patriotism and the need to enthrone a culture of peace, unity and brotherliness among the three geopolitical zones in the State.

He stated that there was also the compelling desire to ensure the prevalence of equity, fairness, and justice as well as provide an acceptable template for a smooth and seamless rotation of political offices, particularly, the governorship seat among the zones, starting with Okigwe zone after the incumbent Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma must have completed his tenure in 2028.

The monarch clarified that, while moving the motion for the reintroduction of Imo Charter of Equity in Imo’s political culture and arrangements during the Council’s Meeting of April 16,2023,he neither suggested nor seconded any proposition whatsoever that Owerri zone should succeed the incumbent governor.

He pointed out that “any insinuation or assertion to that effect is false, misleading and should be discountenanced totally. As a matter of fact,the minutes of the Council’s Meeting of April 16,2023, are there for anybody to access himself or herself. To me, facts are always sacred.”

He stressed that Okigwe zone’s demand is germane and just because of “all the three geopolitical zones in Imo State, Okigwe zone has remained the most disadvantaged in all ramifications,” positing that the Charter of Equity as proposed by him is tailored towards “addressing this age-long imbalance and also ensure even socioeconomic and infrastructural development of all zones in the State in love, peace, and unity.

“The peace and unity of Imo State is important to me as an elder statesman and traditional ruler. Where there is fairness, equity, and justice, rancour, and bickerings are eliminated or at least minimized to the bearest minimum. From all available statistics, Okigwe zone has remained short-changed in all spheres in Imo State. We are pleading to our brothers from Owerri and Orlu zones to see reason with us by aligning with our aspiration come 2027. They should remember that the eye and nose are one,and when one is hurt, the other sheds water,” Eze Ohanweh averred.

It would be recalled that traditional rulers in Okigwe zone under the aegis of Okigwe Zone Traditional Rulers Council had also reminded all Okigwe political leaders, sons and daughters, irrespective of their different political party affiliations,that a governor of Okigwe zone extraction in Imo State come 2028 is non-negotiable.

In a strongly worded letter signed by HRM Eze (Dr) Oliver Ohanweh, JP (Chairman, Okigwe Global Elders Forum),Eze Iheanacho Ndukwe(Ag. Chairman, Okigwe Zonal Traditional Rulers Council),Eze Dan Emereonye(Chairman, Ehime Mbano),Eze Patrick Uwalaka (Chairman, Obowo), Eze Chris Agbugba (Chairman, Isiala Mbano),and Eze Jude Uwalaka (Chairman, Ihitte Uboma) to a group in the zone known as Okigwe First Movement, the Okigwe monarchs opined amongst others that “we unanimously endorse Okigwe zone’s position on Imo Charter of Equity. Our position remains that Okigwe zone should produce the successor to Governor Hope Uzodinma in 2028 in line with the rotational governorship agreement having unequivocally embraced him and delivered more votes in his electoral victory despite having less number of local government areas and registered voters. Anything to the contrary would be deemed abhorrent to logic, fairness, equity, and justice.”

The people of Okigwe zone in furtherance of their push for Imo Governorship seat come 2027 recently forwarded their position paper to the Imo State Council of Elders during the Council’s Meeting held on April 22,2025. Under the auspices of “Okigwe Global League,” political leaders in the zone reiterated their demand for Imo governorship come 2028, and adduced their reasons to buttress it.

The forwarding letter to their position paper was endorsed by the former Secretary to the Government of Imo State (SGI), Hon(Chief) Mark Uchendu and Chief Longers Anyanwu, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the State. The letter was entitled: ” Imo Charter of Equity: The Stand of the People of Okigwe Zone,” and was dated April 21,2025.

The respected traditional ruler went further to affirm that Okigwe Global Elders Forum is and will always serve as a parent body to other splinter groups in Okigwe and will continue to accommodate them as parents will accommodate their children.

He clearly stated that there is no internal crisis over whether Okigwe should lay claim to the governorship come 2028. “Every of the splinter groups that have aired their views internally agree that Okigwe has been marginalised and deserves the governorship. What some who seem to sound discordant are arguing is the issue of the personality of the candidate from Okigwe. But I want to assure them that Okigwe Global Elders Forum, as a parent body, is majorly concerned with appealing with our brothers of Orlu and Owerri zones to see our plight and assist us to come out of the quagmire in which we have found ourself as Okigwe people not about the individuality at this early stage”, he stated.

“The performing Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma CON, as the respected leader of the state, will determine how such candidate will emerge. All we are concerned about is that our brothers from Orlu and Owerri should support us in advising our amiable governor to look towards Okigwe in chosing a credible successor”, he concluded.