Former Managing Director/CEO of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Hon. Chief Charles Orie speaks on his achievements in office, his long-standing relationship with H.E Governor Hope Uzodimma, and why he is being urged to contest the 2027 Imo State governorship election.
In this exclusive interview, he addresses his ambition, what drives his leadership vision, and his response to the controversial Imo charter of equity.
Please introduce yourself.
Thank you. My name is Honorable Chief Charles Orie. I’m from Umuokenne in Ohaji, Imo State.
You served as the MD of ISOPADEC. What were your achievements during your tenure?
When His Excellency appointed me as MD, many doubted I would succeed — but with his support, we proved them wrong.
Within my first 100 days, we commissioned over 40 projects across the oil-producing LGAs. In Akri, Oguta LGA, we built a new primary school, a health center, police station, and installed solar street lights. In Ngor-Okpala, we constructed a health center and two solar boreholes. Ohaji/Egbema saw major renovations of health centers, water projects, and solar lighting.
We later completed three 20-bed modern general hospitals — at Omuma (Oru East), Oguta, and Umuokenne (Ohaji/Egbema). These hospitals are fully equipped with world-class medical equipment.
We also built a brand-new concrete bridge in Oguta LGA at Senator Arthur Nzeribe’s community road — a first of its kind in the history of ISOPADEC.
By the time I left office, we had also: Renovated Awomamma, Oguta, Akuma, Amiri, and Mgbirichi General Hospitals. Built the new Awomamma Acquisition Center. Initiated renovation works at Agwa General Hospital, Oguta LGA .Awara Health Centre Ohaji, Mgbra General Hospital Egbema. Started construction of 24 primary schools across the oil-producing LGAs.
Apart from infrastructure, I championed social investments — from youth and women empowerment to monthly support for traditional rulers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. I personally funded drugs for ISOPADEC clinic at the HQ to cater to indigent residents , ISOPADEC staff and traditional Rulers. Everything we did is verifiable, and thanks to the Governor’s unwavering support.
What was your relationship like with Governor Hope Uzodimma during and after your time at ISOPADEC?
His Excellence Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma is not just a friend he is my elder brother. Everybody that knows two of us in Nigeria calls him my elder brother, Even you guys in Abuja here knows that Governor Hope has been my friend and brother, it remains like that forever because we have no issues with each other atall. I will like to take you through memory lane : before Governor Hope uzondinma became a politician as a private business man I accompanied him everywhere he goes to both here in Nigeria and United Kingdom every where , I can recall in several locations he was handling projects at cocoa port delta state NDDC (sure line protection jobs ) i accompanied him to site regularly. His Calabar port dredging contracts from the flag off to regular site visitation I accompanied him we do everything together I do everything with him no matter my own personal schedules he will ask I accompany him . As a senate committee chairman of customs and aviation I accompany him to most of his oversite functions in Uyo, lagos , ports, Warri and so many other places. For those who don’t know my relationship with him I don’t believe that there is any politician in Imo state that is closer to him than me he remains my elder brother , my friend, my leader and the Governor of Imo state. For those 99% who doesn’t know how we started there eye service and gossips will never stop our relationship but what you people are now is food is ready come and eat because they have no idea where we are coming from.
As a politician, I stood by him. I organized the very first meeting that urged him to run for Senate in 2010 at Sun City Hotel in Owerri. I organized a lot of our men from Orlu senatorial zone to urge him to run for senate and take over from Senator Osita izunaso that is how we put pressure in Ikedi Ohakwe to support H.E Governor Hope Uzodinma for the 2011 senatorial elections and everything became history we won the election. His second term Senetorial election I was a major player also. In 2018 Apc Governorship primaries i am one of those who urged him to leave senate and run for Governor under Apc we collectively worked with him and he became the Apc Governorship candidate and when he became the candidate of Apc he sent me to Owerri to go and organize Imo state politicians before he arrives, I was in Imo for 3weeks formed friends of hope campaign organization in my country home umuokenne i sponsored several meetings in my country home before I moved the meeting to oxygen hotel Owerri before the big masquerade the Governor came back to Owerri and joined us and expanded the campaign and we remained at the oxygen hotel Owerri through out the election and everything became history today.
From 1999 till Governor Hope Uzodinma became Governor I have not benefited a dime from any former Governor or politician because they tagged some of us as Hope boys and I agree because my loyalty all my life I have been with him I served him with love and sincerity. His children and mine are like family. Our bond remains unshakable.
There are talks about you contesting the Imo governorship in 2027. Are you confirming this ambition, and is the governor supporting you?
Yes, when I resigned from ISOPADEC, I made it clear in my letter that I needed time to prepare for 2027. The governor is aware. And I believe the right thing is for him to support me — just as I supported him for years, even before he ventured into politics.
Right now, people — from Abuja, Lagos and the Imolights in diaspora, and within Imo State — are urging me to contest. I’ll make my decision known at the right time.
What inspires your ambition to govern Imo State?
Governor Uzodimma’s performance is my greatest inspiration. He proved doubters wrong, just as I did at ISOPADEC.
Look around the Owerri-Orlu freeway, the Owerri-Okigwe highway, the Owerri-Umuahia Mbaise highway, and the dualized Owerri porthacort road from Asomta to the Secretariat are all game changers.
He negotiated with the Catholic community to build one of the best concrete bridges in Imo’s history. Now he’s rebuilding Concord Hotel to become the finest in the South-East/South-South also the owerri urban renewal etc.
His health insurance policy ensures women give birth free of charge in rural communities. These are legacy projects, and I want to consolidate on them.
I’m a builder — literally and figuratively. People know me across Imo state. I’ve built men for 40 years through scholarships and empowerment. So I don’t need introduction to lead because am very popular in the state and Nigeria , I don’t need to be introduced in Abuja because my name is like coca-cola. I have my own mind, just like the governor. And we need such independence to govern effectively.
What will you say is your legacy as MD/CEO of ISOPADEC
I have mentioned it at the beginning
My legacy is constructions and equipping of 20- bed ultra modern General hospital at Oru East LGA, Oguta LGA , Ohaji/Egbema LGA, and a concrete bridge along Oguta Egbema road and many other things you can do your findings.
What’s your take on the so-called Imo charter of equity regarding rotation of governorship?
I’m not contesting based on any charter of equity. I’m running as an Ohaji-Egbema man.
I’m from the oil/Gas producing community of Ohaji-Egbema so am running this election as an Ohaji-egbema man.
We’ve been marginalized for decades. Since 1999, everybody have ruled Imo State from the other part of Imo State.
Equity demands that this Ohaji-Egbema side of Imo gets a turn. So I’m not moved by any “charter of equity” that wasn’t honored in past elections. So we can shift development and some things to this other part of the State.
We have the largest Gas deposite in the whole of Africa. We have a lot of oil wells/ Adapalm in Imo State . If Adapalm is handled very well the state can give employment to 5000 youths. So everthing they are giving Imo state revenue today is from Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta. So it’s right that this side of Imo state should produce a Governor. Talking about chartered of eqity, I am not talking about joining issues with charter of equity. Whoever wants equity must come with a clean hands.
When Governor Uzodimma won in 2023, candidates from Owerri and Okigwe went to supreme court. If they had won, would we be talking about equity now? There is no charter of Equity in my program. I am running this election. I will come out for this election because I am from Ohaji-Egbema.
If you eventually declare, what kind of change would you bring to Imo State?
Well we still have time, I have not decleared my ambition to run, people are urging me to come out when that time comes I will expand on it. But for now, I haven’t declared. When I do, I’ll present a full manifesto.
Finally, what message do you have for the people of Imo State as they look ahead to 2027?
Let’s not overheat the politics. The Governor H.E Hope Uzodinma still has over two years left. We should give him support to complete his work.
He has said he wants to hand over to someone competent — someone who will continue his legacy. That person must have vision, capacity, and the heart to serve. That’s what I represent.
