By Governor Hope Uzodimma has urged political leaders and residents of Owerri zone to avoid unnecessary tensions and allow him to focus on governance.
Speaking at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Council Chambers during a courtesy visit by Owerri zone leaders on Monday, Uzodimma emphasized that he still has three more years to serve and remains committed to the state’s development under the Charter of Equity.
“I believe in the Charter of Equity,” he stated, noting that it has already been passed into law by the Imo State House of Assembly. He urged political actors not to manipulate the agreement for personal gains but to see it as a framework for regional stability.
The Imo Elders Council had drafted the Charter of Equity before the 2023 elections, agreeing that the next governor should emerge from Owerri zone. However, the decision has sparked controversy, with Okigwe zone arguing that their governorship tenure was cut short in 2011, and they should be allowed to complete their remaining four years.
Uzodimma acknowledged that Owerri zone’s political challenges are both internal and external, urging leaders to foster peace, unity, and reconciliation. He stressed that only by working together could they achieve their goal of producing the next governor.
“Let us separate individual interests from collective interests,” he said, calling on political stakeholders to resolve their differences. He also reaffirmed his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that when the time comes, he will support his party’s candidate in the 2027 elections.
