Sam Onwuemeodo:Imo 2027: Owerri zone leaders of thought and Imo Harmony project(IHP), take heed of dangerous political”termites” or “oke nchas” in okigwe and orlu zones

I’ve chosen to talk to the two outstanding groups in the forefront of the quest or campaigns for lmo governor of Owerri zone extraction, in 2027. They have been doing very well. Spending their time and resources to pursue a common course or a common goal. It’s not easy, no matter the angle one looks at it.

In doing all these, they have always believed that with Governor Hope Uzodimma on their side, their target or heart desire of seeing an Owerri zone man or woman becoming governor in 2027, would be achieved or would easily be achieved. The reason behind their repeated courtesy calls or visits to the governor at the Government House. And coupled with the governor’s “open-air” promise of implementing the lmo charter of equity in favour of Owerri Zone.

Owerri Zone Leaders of Thought group is led by Prince Charlse Amadi, Prince Alex Mbata, Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo, Chief Lemmy Akakem, and others. They are all ardent or unrepentant supporters of Gov. Uzodimma and his 3R Government.

Imo Harmony Project, IHP, is led by Captain Emmanuel lheanacho, Dr. Mrs Kema Chikwe, Barr. Soronnadi Njoku, Barr. Willie Amadi, Dr. Nick Oparandudu and a host of other prominent leaders of Owerri Zone. They are all patriotic citizens of the State and equally arch supporters of Gov. Uzodimma and his administration.

Looking at the title or caption of this essay, l had asked or challenged them to take heed of “dangerous political termites or Oke Nchas” in Okigwe Zone and Orlu Zone respectively. Charter of Equity or no Charter of Equity. I didn’t ask them to beware of them. I had only told them to take Heed. To beware and to take heed are not the same. They differ both in meaning and in sound.

When you want to pronounce Beware, your lips must first come together. But when you want to pronounce Heed, your lips must first open. Try it. God is wonderful. All things bright and beautiful God made them all. Beware, is a warning against danger. To avoid. Heed is just a notice. Take heed. Beware. Bekee wu agbara.

There are dangerous political termites or “oke nchas”, in both Okigwe zone and Orlu zone , who can pose a threat to the wish or desire of Owerri Zone leaders to have someone from the Senatorial District as governor in 2027. These termites have the capacity to pollute the governor’s soft spot for the charter of equity in favour of Owerri zone. These political termites or “Oke nchas” can’t be predicted. They are not touring anywhere. They do not speak much grammar or “blow big” grammar. They’ve never been to the Government House on courtesy visits. These men are dangerous. They are termites. They are Oke nchas. Both termites and Oke nchas have sharp teeth. Very destructive teeth.

Termites are of two species. Those of us brought up in the rural areas would understand better . The ones with red head can dig ten kilometres per day underground with their sharp teeth. Their small sizes notwithstanding. They are edible. The old women those days were using it to cook okro soup. But the most dangerous ones live on walls or planks and so on. As small as they are, they would build shelter for themselves with red mud you would not understand where they brought it from. They can be found in every home. How and where they must have come from, you do not know. You can’t tell. They can eat a whole building down if not checked. They can eat seventy inches thick plank or wood down in few minutes. When they enter your house, you are in trouble. To deal with them, you must spend fortunes. Your hard earned money. I am only painting a serious picture here for those with foresight and “four-sight”.

“Oke nchas” are also smallish in size. The smallest specie of rats. But they can destroy everything in the house. When they decide to eat or tear your pillow, they would start at the middle or center of the pillow so that you won’t use them again. Ditto, your clothes or inner wears. They don’t take prisoners. They don’t play safe.

There are politicians like that in Okigwe Zone and Orlu zone who do not believe that the lmo Charter of equity with regard to 2027 lmo guber, is for Owerri Zone. And they are at work. Men at work. Read my lips correctly. Mene, Mene, Terkel, Urpharsin. The handwriting on the wall.

These men in focus do not frequent the government House. They not sing the praises of the governor openly and at random. But the governor knows them. And they know the governor. They are dangerous. You can’t pin them down.

For instance, Chief Tony Chukwu, an Okigwe Zone born billonaire is a very dangerous political termite. “Oke ncha”. If not literarily, at least, metaphorically. Oke ncha. You do not expect him to fold his hands over 2027. And reading Barr. Willie Amadi’s account on the emergence of Senator Uzodimma as governor in 2020, you could see the prominent role of Chukwu. 2020 gave birth to 2023. Nobody knew about his role in 2019/2020 until it was told by Barr. Amadi.

The current Senator for Okigwe zone, Patric Ndubueze would not have dreamt of contesting the Okigwe zone Senate, talk more, winning, if not Tony Chukwu. He packaged the guy and delivered him. And even if he does not want lkedi Ohakim to be lmo governor again, he might decide to present Ndubueze to governor Uzodimma for adoption. He does not believe that the charter of equity in 2027 is for Owerri zone. The reason he had recently demanded that the State Capital should be taken or relocated to Okigwe Zone, if Owerri zone wants the governorship in 2027. He didn’t mince words. He didn’t deny saying that. And he didn’t say it for the fun of saying so?.

The man l am talking about has governor Uzodimma’s ears 247. He has unhindered access to the governor. If the governor does not see anybody, it’s not in the case of Tony Chukwu. A lot of compound and simple interests are involved. You may not understand. He is one termite or oke ncha that leaders of Owerri zone should take notice of or take heed of. He is a matter. He has weight and occupies space. Those who had studied Integrated Science at the Secondary School level would understand better . Anything that has weight and occupies space is a matter. I am raising the issue of Tony Chukwu and in no mistaken terms. His closeness to Gov. Uzodimma is a case. It’s an issue. Very worrisome. Ignore the closeness at your own risk. At your own peril.

For Orlu Zone, those who had called me to talk nicely about the viability and workability of Charles Orie’s gubernatorial aspiration and the likelihood of his becoming lmo governor in 2027 are all pro- Onwa oyoko and 3R government. And they had talked confidently and authrotatively. And when you watch closely between the time the Ohaji/Egbema born guy left as the Managing Director of ISOPADEC and now, you would discover nothing untoward or missing or amiss in his personal relationship with the Omumma born governor. All is still well. And the big Orlu Zone guys talking about Orie are all strong allies of the governor. They are among the termites or oke nchas. And to the best of my knowledge, they have equally eaten deep into some Owerri zone front seat politicians. Taking heed of the dangerous Political termites or Oke nchas in both Okigwe zone and Orlu zone!

The leading groups championing the campaigns for Owerri Zone born lmo Governor in 2027, should also decide on what would be their next line of action if the unexpected happens. In the event of their high expectation being dashed. Being torpidoed. Being stiffled. Being submerged. The essence of insurrance policy is known to all and sundry. Taking the unexpected into consideration. In “case of incasity”. Some analysts would call it plan B. What becomes the case when this happens or when this does not happen?.

In 2019 for instance, some interest groups and persons from Owerri Zone also intensified the campaigns or dutifully clamoured for lmo Governor of Owerri Zone brand, including those in Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s governmrnt. Okorocha, at the end of the day, settled for Uche Nwosu to succeed him. When that happened, the great expectation was that those pro-Owerri Zone for governor groups would openly declare support for any of the guber candidates from the Zone. That was not done. They rather went ahead to support another Orlu Zone man. You can do some analyses here, while l take my leave.

Such scenario had also raised the question of whether the groups that had canvassed for an Owerri Zone man or woman to become lmo governor then, had a particular party in mind?. Or, a particilar candidate in mind?.

A lot of issues have to be addressed now. Some questions have to be asked and answered. The Owerri Zone Leaders of Thought led by Prince Amadi had been on sensitization tour to the nine local Governments that make up Owerri Zone. Few days after, the lmo Harmony Group led by Capt. Iheanacho announced its own time-table for a similar sensitization tour. In other words, the two major groups, expected to have a common front or uniform goal, are not on same page. This is serious. Why can’t they come together and move as one group, heading to one direction. This hiatus has thrown up the impression or the contention or the suspicon that they have their individual preferred candidates for 2027. This suspicion has the implication of eroding confidence and even support both mutual and material.

I conclude this outing by asking this boneless question. What if Gov. Uzodimma, in the final count, settles for an Okigwe or Orlu Zone man for lmo guber in 2027? Would there be plan B for these Pro- Owerri Zone for governor groups?.

Your guess may be as good as mine, while we continue to clap for Jesus.

Sam Onwuemeodo, a public affairs analyst, writes from Owerri, Imo state.