By EDISON Okereke
The people of Owerri Zone in Imo State yesterday rose in ululation in their commendation of Governor Hope Uzodimma for aligning to the Charter of Equity in 2027 and keeping to his earlier promise that the zone should produce the next governor of the state to succeed him.
In a well-attended meeting that took off in a group movement accompanied by ‘Igba Ndi Eze musical group to a prominent traditional ruler and Chairman of Imo State Council of Elders Council, HRM Eze Dr. Cletus Illomuanya’s Owerri residence, the people who came in their numbers expressed happiness over the decision, hinting that they will take the message to Orlu and Okigwe zones on August 10 and 14 respectively.
The leaders maintained that the decision to take the lead was made possible with the coming together of twenty-one groups in the Owerri Zone which morphed into one united body under the auspices of Prince Charles Amadi (Charlvon)
In attendance on the occasion included the deputy governor, Chinyere Ekomaru, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Alex Mbata, Henry Harritex Njoku, Prince Eze Madumere, Kema Chikwe, Okenze Obinna, Lemmy Akakem, Marcelinus Nlemigbo, Ozichukwu Chukwu, Eches Divine Eches, Kingsley Ononuju, Maxwell Duru, HRM Eze Oliver Ohanweh, Peter Mgbemena all the heads, traditional rulers in the nine local governments of Owerri zone, led by HRH Eze Fred Nwachukwu, among others dignitaries from Orlu zone.
Addressing the large gathering, Amadi thanked Ilomuanya profusely for ‘midwifing’ the issue in other to move the state forward.
He said, ” I agree that Owerri zone will start the ruling. We thank you. We sat down. We said we’re going to visit and appreciate other zones of Orlu and Okigwe. But we said we cannot start that visit without coming to appreciate those who started it. Owerri zone is perpetually grateful to you people. When the history of Charter of Equity is written, it will be written in gold. Eze Illomuanya, Ndi Owerri are grateful to you. We want to assure you, yes, we’re going to start the ruling in Owerri zone but we assure that that person who will come from Owerri zone as governor will be very, very fair to other zones. He will not be a governor of only Owerri zone… That’s why we came. We came to thank you.”
Responding, Eze Illomuanya said, “What we have done in Elders Council is not our might, but the might of God. Elders Council is made up of people of different professionals who are really interested in the development of Imo State.
