BY Nkechi Ojukwu
May 10, (Newshour.com.ng) – Nzuko Owerre General Assembly, a non partisan Organisation of Owerri Federal Constituency, has endorsed Senator Hope Uzodimma for second term. In a meeting held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Country Home of Chief Jerry Chukwueke, the group unanimously adopted the governor’s second term governorship ambition.
The meeting which was chaired by the group president, Hon. Dan Ikpeazu adopted the Charter of Equity propounded by Imo Elders Council, thereby throws their support on governor Uzodimma’s second term ambition.
Speaking, the President of the group, Ikpeazu, said that they are not partisan but focus on matters that concerns Owerri Federal Constituency and contribute to the well being of the area.
In his submission, the host, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, highlighted the various achievements of Governor Uzodimma, which he said includes attraction of Teaching Hospital for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), dredging of Urashi River down to the Atlantic Ocean, for Navy by Federal Government. He disclosed that the two federal government projects attracted by the governor will create job for the youths. He also outlined the various developmental strides the Governor has and still being embarking on, like building of ITC technology for the youth, payment of Health Care Insurance.
According to him, ” the 95% of resources that comes for Imo is been used for the state projects ” which have impacted heavily on Owerri Federal Constituency. Ohamadike Jerry Chukwueke hence opined that in view of the good works of the Governor, that the best option left for Owerri Federal Constituency is to support Governor Uzodimma for a second tenure, to enable him complete what he has begun in Imo State.
Former Transition Committee (TC) Chairman of Owerri North LGA Hon. Austin Achilike emphasized the need to support the present Governor from Orlu Zone, to serve out his second tenure of four years and allow Owerri Zone to have the position, than support an Okigwe Zone fresh person who will aim at serving eight years.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of Nzuko Owerre General Assembly and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council Hon. Fidel Onyeneke advised Owerri Federal Constituency to trade with caution, in order to take the right decision that will be favourable to their people, even as he opined that irrespective of party affiliation, that Owerri Federal Constituency will take the right step by supporting the present Governor from Orlu Zone, in view the good things he has done for the Federal Constituency and for continuity sake, as well as his short period of four years, which will bring the Governorship nearer to Owerri Zone.
The Deputy Chairman of the Imo State Elders Council and indigene of Owerri Federal Constituency, who was invited by the body, explained the contents of the Imo State Chatter of Equity and released the good news that Orlu Zone and Okigwe Zone have supported Owerri Zone to produce the next Governor after Senator Hope Uzodimma.
The group communique reads; “The objective of Nzuko Owerre General Assembly is for welfare, progress and development of Owerri Federal Constituency. The membership is drawn from the professionals, academia, politics, religion and business.
“Nzuko Owerre General Assembly has, through organized engagements brought certain deficient situations of the Federal Constituency to the attention of successive administrations in the state, where upon some of the gaps have been identified and filled. We are not partisan.
“Today being Saturday, 6th May, 2023, the Assembly held its usual meeting at the Country Home of one of our members Chief Jerry Chukwueke, Ohamadike, at Awaka, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State and considered a number of critical issues affecting the interest of the people.
” The support of Chatter of Equity; the support of Governor Uzodumma second term and of the view that next Governing will come from Owerri Federal Constituency. Also the impact of the present administration regarding the social, economic and infrastructural upliftment of Owerri Federal Constituency; and the quest for Imo Governor of Owerri extraction, nee Owerri Federal Constituency, .”
In view of this, the Assembly stated that they strongly support and align with the views of proponents of the Chatter of Equity, which they said seems to uphold a fair and equitable rotation of Governorship among the three political Zones in the state. They also viewed that Uzodimma having the constitutional right to seek re – election for a second tenure and that since it is not in doubt that the Governor has given good account of himself in the development of Imo State to merit second tenure, that Nzuko Owerre General Assembly concedes that Governor Hope Uzodimma is entitled to ask for re – election for a second term.
“That for the dream of having a Governor of Owerri extraction to be realized within the shortest expected period, the Assembly agrees that it requires symbiotic relationship between Owerri Zone and Governor Hope Uzodimma to support each other, with Owerri Zone showing good faith in the re – election of the Governor.
“…It is our contention that the next Governor of Owerri extraction, after Governor Hope Uzodimma should come from Owerri Federal Constituency for reason that both Mbaitoli/Ikeduru and Mbaise have at different times produced Governor’s, except Owerri Federal Constituency. With this done, equity will be seen to have been served.”
