Uzodimma’s reelection typical of Imo Imagination —Ekechi

From Marcel Duru Owerri

A prominent political leader in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State and former member of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Dr. TOE Ekechi has called on the people of Imo State to turn up enmasse on Saturday, November 11, 2023, and vote for Governor Hope Uzodimma, noting that the governor has done so well and that his performance in office will give him the votes of Imo people.

He made this knwon while speaking with Renewed Hope Campaign Media at his countryhome in Imerienwe, Ngor-Okpala LGA over the weekend, noting that he is one of the most excited persons in the state because the governor kept his promise to his Imerienwe Community to construct the 29km Imerienwe/Upe/Obokwe/Etche Road, which he said had been there but previous administrations abandoned it since the Second Republic – over 40 years ago.

Describing the governor as “talk and do governor”, Ekechi said that if previous administrations in the state had yielded to pressure to construct roads in the communities, the communities in the state would have all been developed by now. According to him, any governor who responds to pressure from the people and fulfils their dreams is a responsible governor.

He commended the governor for his determination to embark on the Oguta Lake/Orashi River Development Project, which he noted would bring a seaport and a free trade zone.

He noted that previous administrations had tinkered the idea but couldn’t lift a finger on it, but Governor Hope Uzodimma mobilized his contacts and goodwill, and today, the project is a reality.

Ekechi also commended the governor for mobilising his contacts and goodwill to attract the construction of Owerri-Okigwe Road, Owerri-Orlu Road and Owerri-Mbaise/Obowo/Umuahia Road, when there was embargo on states constructing federal government roads and asking for a refund.

He said that what the governor has done should be commended by all well-meaning people, adding that the governor did not only get one of such roads but got three.

He spoke on the popular charter of equity, saying that the governor has done so well and his reelection is assured. He said that with or without the charter of equity, the governor would win, adding that if there is any loser in the charter of equity, it is the governor because he has constrained himself to choose his successor from Owerri Zone n 2027.

“I am one of those who believe that with or without the charter of equity, the governor is coming back for second term. If there is any loser in the whole permutation for the charter of equity, that person is the governor himself. I believe that by accepting the charter of equity, he has boxed himself to a corner as far as the 2027 governorship election is concerned. By accepting the charter of equity that has been endorsed by all those who matter, the governor has constrained himself not to choose his successor from any other zone but from Owerri Zone only. Ordinarily, with the governor coasting home to victory in the 2023 governorship election, he could have rejected the charter of equity.

“I support the charter of equity because it is favourable to the people of Owerri Zone, and it is our shortest route to becoming the governor of the state. It is in the best interest of the people of Owerri Zone to support the charter of equity because it is beneficial to us. I had worked so hard in the past to ensure that Owerri Zone produced a governor, but we failed at every turn. We had worked with others to actualize it, but it was to no avail.

“The reason is that we are always at a serious disadvantage as we are always outnumbered by Orlu Zone, not in population but in the number of LGAs. With their 12 LGAs, Orlu has a way of defeating both Owerri Zone and Okigwe Zone in a political contest. In terms of spending, Orlu Zone may not be richer than Owerri Zone, but they have so mastered the art of politics, and they see politics as a vocation that is worthy of investing in. At the end of the day, an Orlu politician is ready to spend N110 out of his N100, but an average Owerri politician will barely spend N10 out of his N100. The Orlu politician is willing to borrow or sell a property to invest the money in politics, but our brothers in Owerri Zone will not do it. All this put the Owerri Zone at a disadvantage in becoming the governor. What the charter of equity has achieved for us is that it has eliminated Orlu Zone from the equation in 2027, and now it would be for our brothers in Owerri Zone to slug it out.