Even as the Independent National Electoral Com mission (INEC) is yet to announce date for the Imo North senatorial elect ion, following the death of Senator Ben Uwajumogu,the Okigwe elders have expressed concerns over what it described as lack of peace and unity of purpose among politicians in the senatorial zone
Okigwe Elders Forum also warned against imposition of candidate on elective political positions and advised that a collective decision of the people to prevail.
The forum led by HRH Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanweh, the traditional ruler of Ihim ancient Kingdom in Isiala Mbano Council area of the State held a well-attended and all-encompassing representative stakeholders meeting that involved all the six local government areas that constituted the Senatorial Zone at the ancestral compound of Chief Tony Chukwu in Umueze I Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the State.
Eze Ohanwe who said the essence of the meeting is to ensure the sustenance of peace, brotherly love and unity of purpose within the Senatorial zone and the need to caution politicians against pull him down syndrome, jealousy and betrayal as well as harmonizing themselves to ensure that the people truly participated in electing their representatives.
In attendance at the meeting included Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba the Minister of the State of Education, Chief Tony Chukwu, APC National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro, Hon. Chike Okafor, and others
In his reaction, the Minister os state for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, said he gave 100 percent support to the idea and vision of the Okigwe Elders Forum and enjoined his kinsmen to do the same noting as the only idea that will eschew political rivalry, rancor and acrimony.
Also Chief Longers Anyanwu, one time Federal Commissioner noted the crux of the matter to be peace, brotherly love and unity of purpose among politicians of the Senatorial district noting that the area is eminently blessed with natural resources and human capacities.
He also appealed to the traditional rulers on the need to maintain mutual love and understanding while thanking the Forum for organizing and mobilizing for the meeting and called on the need to give the state government maximum support and co-operation.
In his reaction, His Eminence Chukwuemeka Uche, the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria said he is not in the meeting as a Prelate but rather as one of the sons of the Senatorial zone and as a stakeholder who is aggrieved over the marginalization of the zone and its self-inflicted retrogression in-terms of growth and development.
Uche decried lack of quality and effective representations of the zone by previous representatives and stated his resolve to participate in ensuring that patriotic people with integrity and pedigree are elected to represent the zone subsequently.
The Prelate reiterated his interest in producing a credible candidate that would represent the zone in the Senate saying that he is not afraid of death after all anybody that killed him will definitely inherit hell.
He maintained his resolve to support any government in power saying that it is a divine directive and prayed for the wraths of God to be against any person or group that would again work against the interest of the senatorial zone.
… As group begs Eze Okoro to run
Meanwhile, following the recent announcement by the Senate Leadership of vacancy for the Imo North Senatorial zone seat in the Red Chamber, inview of the death and burial of Senator Benjamin Uwajimogu who represented the Senatorial District, a group under the auspices of Okigwe Patriotic Forum is begging Chief Eze Okoro to run for the re-run senatorial election describing him as a true patriot.
Barr. Valentine Anyanwu, the President of forum disclosed this on Saturday in Owerri while addressing journalists with some members of the socio cultural organization.
According to Anyanwu “Almighty God will bear us witness that Chief Joachin Eze Okoro nor members of his immediate family are not aware of what we are saying or doing. Our resolve to beg him was borne out of our conviction that as illustrious Okigwe sons and daughters, we know our people who are passionate about the growth, development and transformation of the senatorial zone.
“We know the people who can offer us quality, effective and robust representations. We have done our investigations and analyses and resolved with conviction that Chief Eze Okoro is the man that will clean Okigwe Senatorial zone from shame to glory. He is bold, courageous and has fear of God” he noted.
On why Chief Okoro considering the litany of world class personalities the senatorial zone have, Anyanwu said “even though our group is non-partisan both in politics, religion, cultural and other affairs of life, but we are worried over the backwardness and marginalization of the zone. We are disappointed that our previous representatives betrayed and sold off the zone over porridge of yam.
Unlike his contemporaries, he has invested so much in Okigwe above all he is humane and humble. This is why we have taking it upon ourselves to beg him to run and we will invest our money and time in him for the project. He is a man we know too well, that will certainly not disappoint Okigwe people, if he agrees on our sincere pleading” he assured.
