By Chikezie Njoku
Sometime in October this year, Dr Osmond Ukanacho – a political leader in Owerri geopolitical zone of Imo State – rendered what has today, remained an unassailable political advice to his fellow political leaders in Owerri zone, where incidentally, I also hail from. Ukanacho, unlike a typical Nigerian politician – who is often binded by zonal irredentism,parochial and self-serving interests – was blunt and frank in his advice to our people.
What Ukanacho Advocated
Dr Osmond Ukanacho, Chairman/CEO, Osmond Imo Ukanacho Foundation, is from Atta in Ikeduru local Government Area of Imo State. During his media outing in discourse, he called for synergy among political leaders in Owerri geopolitical zone. He was frank in positing that, as things stand presently, Owerri zone has no defined leadership structure.
He went further to argue that if Owerri zone continues on the path of its scattered leadership structure, the Imo governorship diadem which the zone is desperately seeking for, might elude them even in the next 30 years to come.
Ukanacho also advised Owerri political leaders to mend fences with “our brothers from Okigwe zone which they – political leaders in Owerri zone – aided others to truncate their tenure in 2011.” He preached the gospel of equity, fairness, justice, and good conscience and urged political leaders in Owerri zone to shun selfishness, lies,and self-deceit in preference for truth.
According to Ukanacho, “we need to align with Okigwe zone. And, to align with them, we must first appease the wrong we did them in 2011; afterwards, they will reciprocate our goodwill by 2031. In the spirit of equity and good conscience, let Okigwe zone complete its remaining one tenure by 2027 so that it will come to Owerri zone seamlessly by 2031. Only negotiation can give us what we need.”
That was a smart political advice to a house divided against itself, but, who due to ego and destructive pride, has chosen to act like Rehoboam,the son of King Solomon in the Holy Bible, who forsake the wise counsel of the elders,which ultimately caused the division of the kingdom of Israel under his reckless watch.
Ukanacho had made it clear that he adopted intoto, the political template proposed by Prince Bob Njamanze – an octogenarian elder statesman from Owerri zone. Njamanze,in his proposal, aimed at minimizing a rancourous political atmosphere during each governorship election season in Imo State, had advised that Okigwe zone be allowed to complete its remaining tenure and afterwards, Owerri zone will step in.
Njamanze, however, added a caveat to his proposal,which he contended is aimed at protecting Owerri zone’s interest after 2027 and forestall anybody (or interest) from circumventing it. This caveat is that Okigwe zone should present the former governor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, whom Njamanze argued, is constitutionally restrained from going beyond one tenure. Any other person from Okigwe zone, he reasoned,is likely to opt for two terms to the disadvantage of Owerri zone. Rationally, this is plausible.
Reaction of other leaders in Owerri zone
For a fact, apart from leaders, who harbour selfish interests – though they may actually not be blamed because politics is a selfish game to them – others who are futuristic, have seen the wisdom in Njamanze’s proposal. This group of leaders aver that unless there is a synergy with other zones, particularly Okigwe zone who still bear the scar of the 2011 injustice and betrayal reportedly orchestrated by some political leaders in Owerri zone, it will be difficult for Owerri zone to realize its governorship aspiration.
Ukanacho is one of these leaders from Owerri zone. According to him, “I entered politics to serve humanity and not for selfish gains . Politics, I believe, should afford any sincere person the opportunity to reach the larger society – to make empathy part of leadership.”
Unfortunately, some political leaders in Owerri zone – mainly those running sociopolitical groups as mercantile business outfits – will obviously disagree with the likes of Njamanze, Ukanacho, Paddy Obinna, etc,who are looking at politics statesmanly and beyond the zone. Politics is indeed a funny game, one analyst once said.
But what if the hot heads in Owerri zone refuse to heed to wise counsel and oppose Okigwe zone by 2027 ?
One thing may happen again and when it does, Owerri zone will have itself alone to blame, Ukanacho had asserted.
According to Ukanacho, if political leaders keep pushing “this unrealistic 2027 governorship project, I foresee Okigwe zone aligning with Orlu zone to push out Owerri zone completely and this will probably continue beyond 2031. We will lose from the party primaries up to the main elections.
“Let it be known to everyone one of us – in case we have forgotten – that we have only nine local government areas in Owerri zone. Okigwe has six and Orlu twelve. Six plus twelve gives you 18 local government areas. This conforms with the two grounds for declaration of a governorship election winner – majority votes and 2/3 of 27 local government areas. Besides, who said that some LGAs in Owerri zone will not vote an Okigwe zone candidate backed by Orlu zone. We have to be very careful,” he cautioned.
Ukanacho reiterated that “at the moment, Owerri zone is highly polarized – forget all these pretences and cover ups. Owerri zone does not understand the dynamics of power-play and is making a big mistake.”
He queried : ” how many times have the so-called political leaders in Owerri zone gone to see Governor Hope Uzodinma on the 2027 governorship issue and what answer did the governor give them? Technically, nothing. A house divided against itself can’t stand. We are not ready for 2027. Only negotiation can give us what we need. We need to bargain with Okigwe and Orlu zones in our political interest.”
Going Forward
If truth be told, Ukanacho’s assertions are unassailable. He spoke like a patriot and contented man. He did not speak from the perspective of a man in search of filthy lucre.
A major thing I have noticed on the path of some of political leaders in Owerri zone, is their penchant for self-centred interest. In 2015,Prince Charls Amadi (Charlvon), played a hanky-panky game with the interest of the entire Owerri zone using the Owerri Zone Political Leaders Forum (OZOPOLF).
At the eleventh hour when it mattered most, Charlvon sold out Owerri zone’s interest to the eventual winner of the governorship election, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. The pain remains a sore and terrible scar in the palms of Owerri zone people to today
This 2025,Charlvon and his comrade and secretary in OZOPOLF,Barr Kingsley Ononuju(Ekwedasike)have started again. They must myopically think that we all have amnesia.
Now,they have rebranded themselves with another name “Owerri Zone Stakeholders and Leaders of Thought” – same people, same deceptive agenda. This is what the tallest musician in Imo, Shama Melody calls “motor mixture.” But, we – Owerri zone people – cannot be deceived a second time for “once beaten, twice shy.”
What of Chief Martin Agbaso who equally traded off the governorship ticket given to us through him, for Deputy Governorship slot and a behind-the-scene massive oily handshake. Even the Deputy Governorship slot, he gave it to his own younger, Jude.
I ask: so there is no other person in Owerri zone fit for that position except his younger brother? Selfishness everywhere.
This is the same thing Charlvon did in 2023 in Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency with son, Hon Akarachi Amadi, who is now in the Federal House of Representatives. No other person in Mbaitoli or Ikeduru local government areas is qualified except his own son. Nawaooh!
Ambassador Kema Chikwe did the same thing when she was a federal minister. She chose her younger brother, Chimdi Ejiogu as her Special Adviser. Chimdi was alleged to be the alpha and omega when Kema Chikwe held sway under Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency.
The story is the same everywhere with our leaders in Owerri zone – arrogant, self-centred, manipulative and callous. Like leopard, they never change their spots.
Thank God that today, a renaissance group of youths under the aegis, Owerri Zone Progressives Forum (OZOPROF) has been birthed. Going by their objectives, they are a clear departure from the old brigade of Owerri zone political leaders.
We hope that they will not be corrupted, compromised or infected by the selfish mentality of the oldies. Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, if I were the these old political brigade commanders in Owerri zone, I would take time off and regurgitate on a whole lot of things. They must realize that the era of “Obi is a boy” in politics is over.
Njoku wrote from Amuzi in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA
