Frontline gubernatorial hopeful in imo state and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt Honorable Chinedu Offor, has bared his minds on the much-talked imo charter of equity ahead of the 2027 governorship seat election in the state.
The imo charter of equity was fashioned by the elders in the state which provided the zoning of the state governorship office among the three ethnic blocs of the state, namely Owerri, Orlu and okigwe zones.
Mixed feelings have continued to trail the calls on the Governor of imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma who hailed from orlu zone, to adhere to the charter of equity otherwise known as zoning formula in choosing a successor after expiration of his current second term in office.
Political stakeholders, mainly from the owerri and okigwe extractions have respectively, demanded the zoning of the imo gubernatorial seat for the interest of equity and fairness, citing continued shortchange by other ethic blocs in producing a governor for the state.
However, Rt Hon Chinedu Offor who was a former speaker of Imo state House of Assembly while speaking with journalists on Tuesday, berated proponents of the zoning and posited that the people of the state yearns for a capable leader who would build on the giant developmental strides already-recorded by Governor Hope Uzodinma-led administration in imo state.
He explained that choosing a leader on zoning basis most time trumped up bad leadership to the detriment of the people in a society such as Nigeria, insisting that imo electorates won’t afford to choose an incompetent candidate as next governor and would always go for capable governor.
According to Hon Offor who hailed from Okigwe zone, “Let me address this issue this way. If you recall this is recurring discussions. When Rochas Okorocha was contesting, there was this arguments that former Governor Achike Udenwa was from Orlu. He ran for two terms. Even during the time of Rochas, when incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma wanted to run, people also complained that Orlu zone produced Achike Udenwa eight years. Rochas Okorocha eight years and now, Hope Uzodinma eight years. Where was that charter of equity then,”He queried.
He stated “I don’t believe in this charter of equity. I believe in competence. I believe in putting right person in place to do the right job. Now, when you talk about charter of equity, who can guarantee that the next governor will not come from Orlu zone? No one can guarantee that. Governor Uzodinma can say I don’t want it to go Orlu again. But there are sometimes what you work for will not be exactly the same way.
“If you can recall Okorocha had the power, the influence to choose his successor. How did that turned out? He did everything lawfully to produce a successor but it didn’t work. In matter of politics, you cannot guarantee this is how is going to be. This is how is going to work. Alot of people are saying charter of equity, what if tomorrow, the ruling party decides to bring an orlu man and give him the ticket, what will other parts of imo state do,”Hon Offor also queried.
Continuing, the leading gubernatorial aspirant in Imo state said, “This charter of equity has not been implemented for long. And i doubt if it would be implemented now. There is no reason for owerri zone to demand governorship seat. Because all critical government assets abd projects are sited in Owerri zone, making owerri one of the most developed cities in Nigeria. They don’t need to call or demand the zoning of imo governorship position to owerri bloc when all socio-economic and infrastructural projects built by the governments are centered in owerri zone.
Offor posited that if the state gubernatorial seat is to be zoned, next imo governor should come from okigwe bloc in the interest of equity, fairness, and as well towards deepening the democratic process in the state.
While advocating okigwe zone be allowed to take the state governorship shot after expiration of the incumbent, Rt Hon Chinedu Offor insisted that he is the best man to succeed Governor Hope Uzodinma and build on solid foundation already-laid by his administration in imo state.
The gubernatorial hopeful promised to engender building of meaningful projects in all local government areas of the state towards enhancing human, economic and infrastructural growths in these rural areas.
