In a historic move to engender peace and stability in Imo, the State’s Elders’ Council has adopted a Charter of Equity for the rotation of key political offices among the three Senatorial zones.
Notable among these offices are those of the Governor, Deputy Governor and Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Consequently, the Council has endorsed Governor Hope Uzodimma for a second tenure, saying that apart from the fact that he has performed creditably, his zone , Orlu should be allowed to complete its term of eight years.
In a communique issued at the end of its quarterly meeting, the Council noted that since it is a creation of law and desirous to bring stability to the polity, it decided to adopt the Imo Charter of Equity as recommended by by its Strategic Committee headed by Chief (Barr) Dan Nwanyanwu .
In the communique signed by HRH Eze Dr Cletus Ilomuanya, the Chairman and Rt Hon Maxwell Duru, the Secretary, the Council noted that upon a motion by Prof Maurice Iwu, it adopted in its entirety the Imo Charter of Equity.
According to the Charter, the governorship of the State will rotate among the three Senatorial zones of Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri for eight years each.
It noted that since Senator Hope Uzodimma from Orlu zone is already the governor, the next zone to hold the office will be Owerri after which it will move to Okigwe Zone.
The Charter of Equity also decrees that both the governor and the deputy governor cannot come from the same zone, just like the governor and the speaker cannot come from the zone.
Accordingly, the Council urged other aspirants to the governorship position in the November 2023 election to allow Uzodimma to complete Orlu zone”s eight years tenure after which Owerri zone will take over.
The Council thereafter, upon a motion by Archbishop David Onuoha, resolved to hold an interdenominational service to present the resolutions to God and seek his blessings for the charter.
“We resolved that the leadership of the political parties in the State, the traditional rulers, the academia and religious leaders as well as captains of industries and Imo people should congregate in an interdenominational service to seek the face of God in order to avert any subterrenian move by anybody or group of persons to truncate the Charter of Equity,” it submitted.
The Council argued that the Charter of Equity was designed and adopted to ensure a just, equitable and seamless transfer of power from one zone to the other.
The Council, however, commended the State Governor for all his developmental efforts since his assumption of office and urged him to set aside a day in the nearest possible time to brief members of the council on the activities of his Government.
In other resolutions, the Council condemned the violence visited on Igbo in Lagos by some political miscreants, and urged all Nigerians to work together for the progress and growth of the nation.
For the records, this is not the first time this Charter of equity has come up in Imo State, but it has never been adhered to.
Orlu Zone has been in power since 1999, except for a break for one term only, 2007 – 2011, when Okigwe took office. Owerri Zone has never taken a turn.
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