A political pressure group, Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC), one of the groups leading the quest for Owerri senatorial zone (Imo East) to produce the successor to Governor Hope Uzodimma, has alleged that some political forces within the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Orlu zone are vehemently opposed to the aspiration of Owerri senatorial zone.

President of the group, Dr Emmanuel Okwu, who made the allegation in a press statement made available to Journalists in Owerri, yesterday, pointed out that there are no political slaves in Imo State and that one particular zone cannot continue holding power for 24 years, while another one just held power for four years and another one just for a mere seven months.

His words: “Some powerful forces in Orlu Zone are strongly opposed to the tenets of the Charter of Equity, which the Owerri Zone would be the biggest beneficiary of in 2027. A very insignificant number of them are averse to the governorship going to Owerri zone. This is a fact.

“There are no political slaves in Imo State. One particular zone cannot continue to dominate, holding power for 24 years, while another one is just holding for four years and another one is just seven months.”

The debate he said should be viewed from the standpoint of equity and rotation rather than solely from the constitutional right of individuals to contest the governorship.

Okwu said OZAC supports the implementation of the Charter of Political Equity as already agreed by Imo State Council of Elderswith Owerri Zone taking the next turn in 2027, followed by Okigwe and Orlu in that order.

“That is why the Charter of Equity is there, and OZAC is fully in support of it. Owerri Zone should kick-start the Charter of Equity,” he said.

Okwu had criticised the position attributed to Orluzurumee, the apex socio-cultural organization of Orlu zone, saying the group should not assume what he described as a “kingmaker” role in determining who succeeds Uzodimma.

He urged political actors in the state to put aside past political grievances.

“Those who say Owerri betrayed Okigwe in 2011 and those who say actually, Okigwe betrayed Owerri in 2007 should just stop it. Political events or bitterness of the past should be kept away from the issue before us,” Okwu said.

He said none of the three zones in the state was without a history of political disagreements with the others, adding that Orlu’s prolonged hold on the governorship had also affected Owerri and Okigwe.

“Orlu Zone has hurt both Owerri and Okigwe zones in the past by cornering the governorship for more than 24 years. So, would anyone punish them for that? Certainly not,” he said.

Okwu called on what he described as genuine leaders in Orlu to support the Charter and not allow the position of a small group or persons to determine the zone’s overall stance.

“We call on genuine leaders in Orlu to continue to support what is right and not accommodate a very tiny few who are averse to an Owerri Zone governor.

“To every group in Orlu and Okigwe Zone, we appeal: see reason and support Owerri Zone,” Okwu said. (The Sun)