On Nov 1st 2024 one of the most influential Igbo citizen to emerge from Imo State, Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu will be laid to rest in his hometown Atta Ikeduru , and all the political stakeholders in Imo state, the southeast and beyond are expected to grace the event. Late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu popurlarly called Ahaejiagamba was the President General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo before his demise on the 25th of July 2024.
Chief Iwuanyanwu’s prominence and importance in today’s Nigeria and in south east geopolitical zone emanated from his role as one of the pivotal Igbo politicians that was consistent in the Nigerian polity of the nineties, thereby playing a critical role that midwifed the birth of Nigeria’s 4th republic.
With the exit of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in the socio-political sphere of Nigeria and especially in Imo State where he has been unarguably one of the most influential figure in the political decision making , as well as his huge role in ensuring the eventual outcome of certain political occurrences has led to a big vacuum. This weekend the Titan will be laid to rest and all the important political figures in the state are expected to be present to give their last respect.
The funeral will be an ample opportunity for all the gladiators aspiring for the apex seat at the Douglass House in the next gubernatorial election, to meet, exchange pleasantries as well as size each other out in preparation for the mother of all political contest come 2027 , as the clock ticks towards the end of Governor Hope Odidika Uzodinma’s time as Imo State Governor.
Imo is not in short supply of statesmen, elites, technocrats and vibrant entrepreneurs, most of them have been polishing their leadership skills and preparing themselves for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Imo people if given an opportunity to govern the state, and the list has gotten more robust and competitive as more and more of the best of this stock have started consultations and sampling opinions of king makers, power brokers, community leaders, and the men behind the curtains of power in the state and beyond, towards realizing their ambition.
The major spectrum of power play in Imo State
In Imo state, there are three geo-political zones, namely: Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe zones, otherwise called the “3 Os. And its an unarguable fact that the population and economic strength of the State is tipped towards Orlu Zone ,as most of the oil producing areas of the state like Oguta, Ohaji Egbema,Oru East are in Orlu zone, the zone as well has more Local Government Areas (12) in total against (9) LGA’s in Owerri Zone and Okigwe Zone with (6) LGA’s, thereby cementing its numeric strength as politics is a game of numbers.
Owerri Zone and the Zoning Question
The biggest factor that will tip the balance of the next gubernatorial election of Imo State to Owerri zone is the written zoning agreement in APC which is not binding to PDP, APGA, LP and other political parties in the state ,the zoning of Gubernatorial election to a zone is not constitutionally binding.
In Imo State politics , the sentiment of Zoning still persists even though there seems to be no general agreement on the basis of equity that political power should rotate among the zones in the State , unlike the federal character principle which was borne out of the need to ensure evenness in spreading government appointments to promote inclusion, representation, a sense of belonging and balance in the polity. But zoning in state politics is not constitutional and there are arguments that it is used as a tool of emotional blackmail to try to intimidate more qualified candidates from contesting in an election just because they are from a political zone, and another school of thought believes that zoning of electoral leadership positions encourages and enable mediocres rise to seats of leadership, thereby shortchanging the people.
Nevertheless the zoning argument seems to be in favour of the gladiators from Owerri zone and has heightened the interest of many politicians and elites from that area for the apex seat in Imo Government house , as the list of names emanating from the zone that are alleged to be interested in the Douglass House Job seems endless, the likes of Sen. Sam Anyanwu who contested in the last guber election, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha who governed Imo State for barely 7 months before he lost his seat via the supreme court judgement on the 14th of January 2020 Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi the senator representing Owerri zone at the national assembly are believed to be poised for the next guber election.
Prince Alex Mbata (PAM) an enigmatic philanthropist, known as the friend of the people and the consensus builder is expected in the contest, as well as Chief Martin Agbaso and another heavy weight and consistent power player in Imo gubernatorial politics, are believed to be primed for the guber race, with Rt. Hon.Bede Eke a former lawmaker and current commissioner in Senator Hope Uzodimma’s administration also said to be aiming for the position.
Other political stalwarts like Prince Charles Amadi ,Chief Marcon Nlemigbo , Dr. Uzoma Obiyo CEO and Group Managing Director at Multinet Group Limited, Rt Hon Engr. Ikenna Elezianya former Federal house member representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Mr, Stanley Amuchie Executive Dirctor,Chief operations and information officer fidelity bank with impressive miulti- functional work experience in corporte governance, Chief Henry Njoku Business foremost expert in import and export industry are alleged to be evaluating their chances and drawing their plans to make a successful bid for the governors seat in the next election.
Orlu Zone and the Challenge of a Successor.
In recent times it has been a strong challenge for any governor in Imo State to successfully anoint a successor and the gladiators emerging from the Orlu zone has the wherewithal to gun for the seat at the Douglas House without the assistance of the Governor.
With Senator Hope Uzodinma coming from the Orlu zone, it will be a herculean task for the next governor of Imo State to emerge from Orlu Zone but it’s also terrifying looking at the records and quality of aspirants that have emerged from the zone. Power is not given but taken and it’s going to be a daunting task for the emerging candidates in the Okigwe and Owerri Zone to be able to compete and win election against the likes of Senator Osita Izunaso and Hon/Chief Charles Orie.
Senator Osita Izunaso who is the present senator representing Orlu zone at the national assembly, is a veteran politicians who has been at the forefront of the political rumble in Imo and Orlu zone for over 2decades now. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and first became a senator in 2007 before returning to the national assembly in 2023 election.
Another heavyweight from Orzu Zone is Hon/Chief Charles Orie who hails from Ohaji/Egbema one of the communities endowed with extremely rich natural mineral resources in Imo State and Nigeria at large. He is a seasoned politician, philanthropist and kingmaker with contacts and connections that cuts across the length of the nation, he recently resigned from his appointment as the Managing Director and CEO of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) where he showcased his innovative leadership acumen and economic administrating prowess, which he put to good use by making significant strides in enhancing the economic status of the state.
It will a dangerous oversight to ignore the capacity of Hon/Chief Sir Uche Nwosu, who happens to be son in law of Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha the former governor of Imo State , who also contested for the seat not too long ago., the last but not the least is the amiable and dexterous Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie the present Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor, who is a vibrant politician and son of the famous honourable Chief Anyaehie from Nkwerre.
Okigwe Zone’s Dilemma
With Okigwe Zone comprising of only 6LGA’s, the next Imo state governor to emerge from there will have a huge influence that cuts across the state zones with an indelible choice of a deputy as a running mate, as well as a magnanimous persona , and it’s not by chance that the 3 leading names emanating from that zone, are big enough to cuts across not just the zones of the state as they are heavyweights in politics of Nigeria and are national asset as they have built relationship across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria, and are all blessed with amazing profiles that beats the imagination.
Former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Sen. Athan Achonu an agronomist and detribalized Nigerian , and the seasoned economist, finance expert,law maker and ranking member at the national assembly of Nigeria Hon. Chike Okafor. In the last 25years of the 4th Republic, Okigwe Zone has been at the helm of affairs of Governance of the State only once and that was the 4years Gov Ikedi Ohakim spent as Governor before he lost his re-election bid to Governor Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha.
It has been argued that the Charter of Equity was operational in Imo from Chief Achike Udenwa from Orlu geopolitical zone to Dr. Ikedi Ohakim of the Okigwe zone, only for Owelle Rochas Okorocha to disrupt it in 2011.
Another attempt to restore the state on the path of fairness in power-sharing was again torpedoed in 2020 when Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of Owerri zone was sacked for Senator Hope Uzodimma, another Orlu zone indigene to take over the governorship seat , but the people of Okigwe Zone are in high spirits in regards to the quality of the aspirants that are emerging from the zone and are optimistic that their chance is not too far based on the qualities and capabilities of their sons that are showing interest in the next guber election of Imo State.
As the entire Imo Mourns the exit of a colossus like Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, his funeral this weekend presents an opportunity for these Gladiators gunning for the Douglas House make an impression, and ndi Imo are expecting bold political statement from these gladiators this weekend as all eyes will be watching their body languages for signals of the truth in this their alleged intentions.
Samuel Arinze
Political Pundit
Lagos Nigeria
