– Emma Ibediro
Question: For the benefit of those who don’t know you before now, may we know you?
Answer: I am Hon Barr. Emma Ibediro. Former Executive Chairman Onuimo Local Government Area, 1999- 2002, Fmr. Commissioner House of Assembly Service Commission 2010- 2012; Fmr Chairman House of Assembly Service Commission 2012 -2015; Fmr State Secretary All Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State; Fmr SSA( Special Duties) Imo State; Fmr Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development 2016-2017; Fmr Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government, Imo State 2017-2018; Fmr National Organizing Secretary, APC; Member, Imo Elders Council.
Question: That is an impressive C.V. You have come a long way in the politics of Imo State in particular and Nigeria in general. What is your take on the burning issue of Imo Charter of Equity as we navigate towards the 2027 Governorship election in the State?
Answer: The Imo Charter of Equity is the main burning issue in all discussions and agitation towards the 2027 Governorship election in Imo State. In analysing this presently controversial three worded phrase, let me hazard a guess at what must have been the intention of the Imo Council of Elders at the time they came up with this idea. First, was it a convenient policy for the time being perhaps as part of the reelection strategy of our present Governor or was it a sustainable policy for all time to regulate succession to power in Imo State notwithstanding the outcome of that particular election . I want to believe the later because as at the birth of this “new” Charter of Equity , the incumbent Governor, based on solid performance and political expediency was already cruising to victory despite the weak opposition from some quarters. So the idea behind the Charter of equity must be to establish an acceptable sustainable pathway to power succession into Douglas House. One of such proposed plan is the rotation of the Governorship seat among the three zones based on the equality of the zones without minding the actual sizes of the zones. This is in the spirit of fairness and equity. I must commend the magnanimity of our brothers from Orlu zone who command a whooping 12 Local Government Areas out of the 27 Local Government Areas that make up Imo State, yet accepted this proposal. The second arm of the Charter , I believe is to put in place an equitable way of power sharing in the State to ensure that all the zones are carried along in the allocation of positions of power. It must be noted here the distinction between Power rotation and Power sharing. The first is based on equality and the second is on equity and fairness.
Question: These I must say are fine principles of the Charter in theory. How do you think it can be practicalised based on variables and competing interests of the zones?
Answer: What I have outlined above is what I consider the substance of the Charter. In other words, the substantive angle of the principles. The other angle will be the procedural, that is to say, the procedure to be adopted in its implementation. The State at all times has leadership represented in the Governor who is the Chief Executive of the State. So this proposed Charter having received the blessings of the Council must be presented to the Governor for his acceptance and approval . The Governor upon his approval is also expected to guide its implementation. This is where the the street wisdom and political sagacity of the present Governor came to play. His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma exhibited a wisdom similar to the one credited to King Solomon in the Bible when confronted with the issue of the actual owner of the child between two contesting women. The Governor stated that Orlu zone where he comes from should not on moral ground aspire to succeed him. That between Okigwe and Owerri zones, show of commitment to the Charter in order to benefit from it is a sine qua non. That the zone that produces the higher number of votes between the two zones to support his reelection will in turn receive his own support and blessing to kick-start the rotation. This was a clear mandate and Okigwe zone rose to the challenge. Okigwe zone despite the disadvantage of having only six local Government Areas delivered 128,000 votes as against the 98,000 votes from Owerri zone with nine Local Government Areas. Numbers do not lie. Commitment is measured by action and not rhetorics. In the circumstance, who has a more justified claim? Is it those that are mouthing it is “my turn” or those who took action to show their commitments to the principles of the Charter. The answer is obvious. He that goes to equity must go with clean hands. Secondly equity aids the vigilant and not the indolent. Even where the equities are equal the law still provides a remedy. The first in time prevails.
Question: From the hindsight of political history of Imo State, which zone between Okigwe and Owerri presents a more convincing case?
Answer: Now let us take a trip to the past to justify Okigwe zone’s agitation. In 1983, Dr Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, the first Executive Governor of the State had his second tenure truncated by the Muhammadu Buhari military coup. He was from Obowo in Okigwe Zone. He served for four years. In November of 1993, Chief Evan Enwerem’s tenure suffered a similar fate. His term was equally cut short by the Sani Abacha coup. He was from Ikeduru in Owerri zone. He served for almost two years. In 1997, when the build up to this present fourth Republic democracy started, Chief Evan Enwerem made a move to come back. Imo Leaders then including Chief Sam Mbakwe, Dr Emeka Echeruo, Chief JS Enyogasi, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu , Chief Arthur Nzeribe and Chief I.D. Nwoga and a host of others came up with the first Charter of Equity and conceded the Governorship position to Orlu zone. This was because Mbakwe of Okigwe Zone was Governor in the second Republic and Enwerem of Owerri zone was Governor in the third Republic. In the primary election of the All Peoples Party, based on this new charter, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu was nominated as against Chief Evan Enwerem. In the Peoples Democratic Party, it was rumoured that Chief Humphrey Anumodu from Owerri zone won the primary election but in the spirit of the new charter Chief Achike Udenwa was nominated. So head or tail, an Orlu zone person will be elected Governor. At the conclusion of the election, Chief Achike Udenwa was elected and duly inaugurated. Achike Udenwa was reelected after four years and did eight years altogether.
In 2007, all eyes were on Okigwe zone. Indeed all the major Political parties picked their candidates from Okigwe zone. Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Chief Charles slogged it out in PDP, Chief Jude Nzeako of Accord Party, Emeka Nwajiuba of Labour Party etc. Dr Ikedi Ohakim of PPA was elected. It is worthy of note that Owerri zone however did not comply with this order of rotation as their son Chief Martin Agbaso contested under APGA and was massively supported by Owerri zone. Even though he did not eventually win , it showed Owerri zone’s lack of respect for the emerging seamless rotation pattern. It is also worthy of note that this resistance and resentment of Dr Ohakim from some section of Owerri leaders continued throughout his tenure culminating in the unprecedented conspiracy that hounded him out of office.
Then came 2011 and the most intriguing and dumbfounding conspiracy surfaced. This took the form of a well contrived, well enabled and disseminated false accusations against Governor Ohakim. He was accused of flogging a certain Catholic Reverend Father Eustace. The rumour raged like a wide harmattan fire. Religious sentiments with the full support of the church leadership was effectively deployed to drive home this ungodly narrative. Derogatory Religious songs were composed to mock a sitting Governor and denigrate his person and office. It was not surprising therefore when the same forces who were still in resentment from their loss in 2007, agreed with Chief Rochas Okorocha to support his ambition to supplant Ohakim in exchange for the position of Deputy Governor, Commissioner slots and a purported agreement to serve for a single term. That proved a terrible miscalculation as Chief Rochas Okorocha ended up spending eight years in office.
Question: Are you suggesting that Dr Ikedi Ohakim’s failure to secure a second term in 2011was ochestrated by some Owerri zone leaders?
Answer: In 2011, Dr Ikedi Ohakim was hounded out of office by the actions of certain Political and religious leaders of Owerri zone in favour of favour of a Governor from Orlu zone not minding that Chief Achike Udenwa served out Orlu zone’s turn not long ago. I recall that the governorship election of that year went smoothly in Okigwe and most part of Orlu zone. The violence and ochestrated manipulations that eventually led to the declaration of that election as inconclusive occurred in Owerri zone. The religious sponsored hate was so much that people dressed in soutane as reverend fathers were pictured at polling booths influencing voters against Ohakim. During the eventual run off elections which took place in parts of Ngor Okpala, Mbaitolu, Owerri North all in Owerri zone, the leaders could not remedy the Dr Ohakim’s impending ouster. I still recall the chilling experience of some PDP/Ohakim supporters and agents who were mercilessly beaten in Ngor Okpala by partisan security operatives who were allegedly mobilised by known Owerri political leaders. Now let us digress from the person of Dr Ikedi Ohakim. In that election of 2011, other candidates of Okigwe Zone extraction also contested. Assuming Dr Ohakim’s crime was so unforgivable, why was another Okigwe person not supported?. This hounding of Okigwe person out of office occasioned the disruption of the rotation pattern and began the distortion of the existing Charter of Equity.
Now let delve in a little into the economic and social dimension of the agitation. The agitation should be balanced alongside the fact that Owerri zone hosts the State capital. As a result every infrastructural and development economics of the state centres around Owerri and its environs. Okigwe Senatorial zone is the least developed lacking basic amenities. This frustrating situation lead to the recent symbolic call by Chief Tony Chukwu, which was mischievously misinterpreted, that Owerri zone should chose between the capital city and the Governor. All the Educational and Health infrastructural facilities are situated in Owerri. All the major markets with its attendant economic values are centered in Owerri. Okigwe till today continues to hold the short end of the stick in all indices of development.
Question: What do you think is the way forward to unlock the apparent lockjam in the implementation of the Charter of equity?
Answer: Thank God that today the incumbent Governor, His Excellency Hope Uzodimma who is and acts like a Statesman who considers himself as an Imo Leader and not a parochial zonal irredentist has decided to champion this peaceful and organised succession policy. Imo people should commend him and sail with the tide. Imo is the only State in the South East where rotation of the Governorship position is not entrenched. Other states are reaping the numerous benefits of organised succession arrangement. I want to state that those who have maintained an entitlement mentality that it must be the turn of their respective zones should realise that there is no quarrel or strife between Okigwe and Owerri zones. It is all a healthy political agitation that will eventually end in a united Imo State.
I advocate that we adopt the Governor’s template of proof of commitment to the Charter that gives precedence to the zone that gave him more votes to kick-start this rotation. Granted that both Okigwe and Owerri zones parade eligible aspirants. Only one person will be Governor at a time. Both zones will continue to advance claims of comparative advantage so long as the agitation subsists. We must however come to the irrevocable truth. Owerri zone will not be able to assuage the hurt Okigwe zone harbors on the outcome of the 2011 disruption of their tenure without conceding some form of placation .
Question: So how do we seek a balance?
Answer: My take on this is very straightforward. Bring back Ohakim to finish the Okigwe remaining term. Owerri has no aspirant who is constitutionally limited to a single term. Okigwe zone has such aspirant in the person of Dr Ikedi Ohakim. Owerri zone can heal Okigwe zone’s hurt by agreeing and allowing Okigwe zone complete its turn through Ikedi Ohakim and thereafter take their full term. All these depend on the assumption that Orlu zone though not legally estopped from contesting but morally persuaded not to, having held the position for the past sixteen years not enter the contest.
In conclusion, should Dr Ikedi Ohakim decide to throw his hat into the contest, his second coming will be the key to unlock this lockjam of who goes first. Ohakim’s candidacy is expedient at this time. Firstly he is a committed follower and supporter of His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma. He has all the requisite experience having served as Governor in the past. He has the capacity and necessary exposure and expertise to continue the legacy developmental strides of the present Government. He will be saleable and a uniting factor because he has friends from across all divides. It will be an opportunity to remedy any perceived mistakes of the past. It is on record that Governors who made a comeback have proved to make excellent Governors in their second coming. In short Dr Ikedi Ohakim should be considered as the consensus Equity candidate for 2027 Governorship Election.
