By DESTINY Isinwa
A major stakeholder in the Imo State chapter of the Labour Party, Chief Collins Ngozi Odunze from Orlu zone, has blasted those who are advocating that the Chairmanship of the party in the State should be zoned to the Orlu geopolitical zone. He described such calls as reckless, myopic, and self-serving,stating that such “an insensitive and retrogressive idea does not have the support of party leaders, stakeholders and over 98% of members of the party in Imo State”
Chief Odunze made these assertions while reacting to calls by some anonymous and faceless persons who claimed to be Labour Party stakeholders in Imo State,and who are demanding for the zoning of the party’s Chairmanship seat to Orlu zone. The unknown stakeholders made the demand vide an unsigned publication in the Edge Express newspaper of Friday edition.
K .According to Odunze, everything about the said publication smacks of mischief, irresponsibility, and selfishness. He said that no true and committed Labour Party member can make such divisive demand at this time when the party is being repositioned and galvanised by the charismatic and visionary leadership of Mazi Excel Ochiama, the party’s Chairman in the State.
“That publication is vexatious and was sponsored by fifth columnists who do not mean well for the party. Who issued the anonymous statement? No known person. Are stakeholders ghosts? Don’t they have names? The whole thing is balderdash and nonsensical. Why are they hiding their identity if at all they are genuine party members? As far as Labour Party leaders and stakeholders in Imo State are concerned, that publication was sponsored to create disaffection within our party.Apparently, someone somewhere has developed cold feet because of our party’s rising profile both in Imo State and nationally,” Odunze opined.
The Labour Party leader argued that zoning often breeds mediocrity and incompetence, stressing that under the Chairmanship of Mazi Excel Ochiama, Labour Party in Imo State has become the beautiful bride among aspirants for various political offices in State. He averred that the party was in coma and life-support prior to Ochiama’s emergence about six months ago. “But today, Ochiama has breathed life into the party again, secured and furnished the party secretariat in Owerri. He has also set up Reconciliation Committees to resolve wherever there is dispute among members. Our secretariat at this moment is a beehive of activities courtesy of Ochiama’s midas touch and vision.Yet,some somebody had the temerity to talk about zoning. Let me tell you, no good coach changes a winning team when the football match has just started,” Odunze posited.
He reminded the proponents of zoning that Okigwe zone held the party’s Chairmanship for eight years through Dr. Ambrose Onyekwere. “After him was Chief F.B.Onyeakulisi as Interim Committee Chairman. He was succeeded by Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie from Orlu, who conducted the 2023 governorship primary that produced Senator Athan Achonu as the party’s governorship candidate. After Awuzie, Barr. Callistus Ihejiagwa became Chairman until December 5,2025,when Ochiama came on board,” he explained.
Odunze further stated that leadership demands selfless sacrifice, commitment,vision,and charismatism,qualities he pointed out Ochiama possesses.”More than two-thirds of majority of the State Working Committee (SWC)members,305 ward Chairmen and 27 local government area Chairmen have all passed a vote implicit confidence on Ochiama’s Chairmanship. So,who then are the faceless stakeholders trying to fan the embers of discord again in our party? I am telling them and whoever sponsored that ridiculous publication in Edge Express newspaper that we can never go back to Egypt. We in Labour Party have learnt our lessons, and we shall never again sacrifice visionary leadership and competence as epitomized in Ochiama’s Chairmanship at the altar of zoning,” Odunze reiterated.
He recalled that during Ochiama’s tenure as State Deputy Chairman, he was the life-wire of the party. “He committed his personal resources in sustaining and working for the party and is still doing so to date. As State Deputy Chairman, Ochiama was instrumental to Labour Party winning Owerri Senatorial seat and two House of Representatives seats(Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala, and Owerri Federal Constituencies) in 2023 elections. Now, as Chairman, we are optimistic that he will surpass that achievement of 2023,” he said.
