Iwuanyanwu Confirms He Endorsed Uzodinma For Second Term, Stands By Imo Charter Of Equity; SamDaddy Loses His Support

By Charles Igbo

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has put a lie to the story that he asked the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to forget his second term bid, and step down for somebody from Owerri Senatorial Zone to succeed him in 2024.

Iwuanyanwu was quoted, after he granted an interview  to Channels Television, of saying it would be unfair for Uzodinma to go for a second term in office when  no Owerri man has done even a first term since Democracy in 1999.

Uzodinma is from Orlu Senatorial Zone, a Zone which has produced the Governor for 20 years and counting. Owerri Zone has been angling to have a piece of the action, but each time, it met with a huge disappointment.

To accord every Zone an opportunity to produce the Governor, a couple of days ago, the Imo State Council of Elders, headed by His Royal Highness, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, at its monthly meeting, April 13, prepared what it called the Imo Charter of Equity.

The document provides that each Senatorial Zone of the State’s three Senatorial Zones would hold the office of the Governor for eight years, after which it would rotate to the next Zone.

In the instant case, the Council resolved that Governor Uzodinma, from Orlu Zone, having done four years which ends in January 2024, should be allowed to complete two terms in office after which it would be the turn of Owerri Zone for eight years, and thereafter, Okigwe Zone.

The Council, therefore, endorsed Uzodinma for a second term.

After the meeting, members went to visit Uzodinma, and presented him with the Charter. An excited Uzodinma embraced it, and promised to make it work.

But about 48 hours after the presentation of the Charter to Uzodinma, and the Council’s endorsement, the story went viral on WhatsApp  Platforms and print media that Iwuanyanwu, a member of the Elders’ Council, and who was present at the Council’s meeting and visit to Uzodinma, and a signatory to the Charter of Equity, in an interview, dumped the contents of the Charter and insisted: “It is the turn of Owerri Zone.”

There are three major Parties in Imo State – All Progressives Congress, APC, Labour Party, LP, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. And the only one which has an Owerri Candidate is the PDP. Its Candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, is an “Iwuanyanwu boy.”

When, therefore, the story surfaced, it was taken for granted that Iwuanyanwu, a former PDP Chieftain, until he quit partisan politics, was rooting for Anyanwu, popular as SamDaddy. And many wondered why he was not brave enough to challenge the Council’s decision at its meeting.

But on Saturday, 22nd April, in a statement he personally signed, Iwuanyanwu said he stood by the endorsement of Governor Uzodinma for a second term in office, and said it was because of the Governor’s sterling performance so far. He pointed at four areas where the Governor has excelled.

He, also, said he stood, solidly, by the Imo Charter of Equity as prepared by the Elders’ Council.

Iwuanyanwu denied granting any interview where he asked Governor Hope Uzodinma to stand down for an Owerri man.

Following is his statement titled: “IMO CHARTER OF EQUITY, ZONING OF IMO GOVERNORSHIP AMONG ALL THREE SENATORIAL ZONES OF IMO STATE”

“My attention has been drawn to some articles on the above published by a section of the Nigerian Media.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state as follows:

“1. I support the Charter of Equity which gives opportunity to all parts of Imo State to have access to the highest political position of the State.

“2.I attended a meeting of Imo State Council of Elders in Owerri held on Thursday, 13th of April 2023. At this meeting, the report of the committee set up in respect of Governorship zoning formular was presented.

“3. To the best of my knowledge, the Council of Elders unanimously resolved to adopt the report.

“4. It was resolved that each Zone should hold the position of the Governor for a period eight years.

“5. Orlu zone is presently occupying the position of Governorship, and will soon complete the first four years. The Council resolved that Orlu should be allowed to complete the next four years, and thereafter hand over to Owerri zone for the next eight years. At the end of eight years by Owerri zone, Okigwe zone will take over for another eight years.

“I hereby confirm that I attended the meeting of Council of Elders, and I voted in support of the report. I, also, wish to express my support for the Council of Elders decision to acclaim the achievements of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma’s administration in many areas, including:

“a) Massive infrastructural development, including roads.

“b) The conversion of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to a Federal University Teaching Hospital.

“c) The upgrading of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Federal University of Education.

“d) The dredging of Oguta Lake to serve as a seaport, etc.

“However, I wish to state that I never granted any radio or print interview on this subject. I only had an interview with the Channels Television. And this interview was transmitted live, and all those who watched and listened to the interview will bear witness to the fact that the publication making the rounds on social and other print media were all false.”

For the records, this is not the first time this Charter of Equity would be endorsed in the State. However it has never been adhered to.