BEN AHANONU
For quite some time, the so-called Orlu Political Consultative Assembly, OPOCA, has been displaying much unfounded arrogance, unspeakable and reprehensible zonal primacy, by constantly harassing with impunity, Imo people especially indigenous people of Owerri Zone, who hold contrary view to what it thinks is “Orlu interest” and which must be protected at all costs even when such interests only expand the Imo political fault line.
One prominent son of Owerri Zone, who has often been targeted and lampooned in a manner that is quite provocative by OPOCA, for exercising his freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed by the Constitution is Chief Willie Amadi.
As OPOCA continues to showcase much nuisance value in the Imo political terrain, it becomes pertinent to remind the body that it has zero political relevance and the claim is not far-fetched.
OPOCA, is a loose assemblage of self-seeking individuals and does not represent mainstream people of Orlu Zone. OPOCA is also the private establishment of some individuals for self-aggrandizement but on the pretext of fighting for Orlu Zone. It equally lacks the mandate of the people of Orlu Zone.
Former Governor Rochas Okorocha, had in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, in March 2021, described OPOCA as:
“Political undertakers who glory in absurdities, simply to enlarge their coast or make their leaking pockets fat. And not just for any meaningful venture, but for leisure and pleasure.
“For those who do not know the group, the characters in OPOCA were the same people, who carried the mock coffin of Chief Arthur Nzeribe when he was in the Senate and they did that to please Chief Achike Udenwa, who was governor then.
“They were also the same group that confined Chief Achike Udenwa to their Hall of Shame. They did that to please Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who was governor then.
“In 2015, the same group wrote petition to the Inspector General of Police against Chief Hope Uzodinma alleging assault. They did that to please Rochas Okorocha, who was governor then and they had done that, thinking that Okorocha would make them commissioners. But Okorocha was not interested in the group using him to fight anybody. He rather appointed two of them Special Advisers.”
OPOCA also needs to be reminded that despite the much noise and grandstanding, it has no hand in the emergence of the three Governors from Orlu Zone.
It is true that In 1999, Achike Udenwa emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and eventually became the Governor through the spirited efforts of Imo political godfathers but there was no OPOCA.
It is also true that In 2011, Chief Rochas Okorocha emerged through the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, with the support of other Imo people and promise of exaggerated, deceptive and unrealistic free education programme – but there was no OPOCA.
It is true that in 2020, Senator Hope Uzodimma became Governor with the support of Imo political chieftains mainly from Owerri Zone and instrumentality of Camp Hope structure but without any influence of OPOCA.
OPOCA with a penchant for transactional politics had once instituted the infamous “Hall of Shame” to allegedly browbeat prominent sons of Orlu Zone into submission and “settlement” but many resisted it and even used brute force on those rogue elements of OPOCA before the nonsense stopped.
AKARACHI AMADI NEVER UNDERMINED ORLU ZONE
It is one thing to attend school and another thing to get educated otherwise, how can one explain the situation where a group of people – many of whom have neither contested nor won any elective position accuse an elected and certified member representing Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives of undermining Orlu Zone just because he used deductive reasoning in building his case for additional four Local Government Areas for his Constituency.
In building a case, one must adopt
deductive reasoning or top-down reasoning, which is based on using two logical assumptions, generally, accepted as fact, to come to a logical conclusion and that was what Rt. Hon. Engr Akarachi Amadi did while making the case for four new Local Government Areas in the Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency, he represents.
Strangely, the so-called noisy OPOCA, characteristically, saw it differently with parochialism.
That Owerri Zone has the highest number of registered voters in Imo State is an absolute and indisputable fact.
That Mbaitoli Local Government Area (LGA) is larger than three local government areas in Orlu Zone both in terms of population and land mass is also an indisputable fact so how did Rt. Hon. Engr Akarachi Amadi undermine Orlu Zone when no Federal Constituency Representative from Imo State is precluded from making his/her own demand for more local government areas?
Akarachi Amadi is working on his legislative agenda for Mabitoli – Ikeduru Federal Constituency and should not be harassed or threatened by anyone or group as this will be fiercely resisted.
The pertinent question being asked by many Imo people is, which cast-iron law stated that Imo West Senatorial District must have more local government areas than the rest?
Imo people can as well claim that the quest for the so-called Orlu State as being championed by Senator Osita Izunaso, which according to him is part of his legislative agenda and which seeks to make Imo State a non-oil producing State by taking away all the oil and gas in the state is also aimed at undermining Imo State and cannot happen.
Engr Akarachi Amadi, is only working for the good of his Federal Constituency – delivering his campaign promises with steadfastness. His aim is not to dominate or undermine any senatorial zone, contrary to the false claim of typical OPOCA.
It must be pointed out clearly that although Rt Hon. Engr Akarachi Amadi is still a very young man, calm, respectful, friendly and humble but he is made of steel and cannot be intimidated or silenced.
He is a purposeful representative totally focused on goal delivery, hence not frightened by silly insinuations and unfounded accusations.
Akarachi Amadi, respects the people of Orlu Zone and has harmonious relationship with many prominent politicians from the Zone. He has never and will never work against the interest of Orlu Zone, therefore the irritating noise and grandstanding by OPOCA is neither here nor there
OPOCA’s POSITION AGAINST CHARTER OF EQUITY
We are compelled to remind OPOCA that In 1999, a certain Udenwa, who had nothing special going for him as per political pedigree, eventually emerged and became the very first candidate in Imo State that never won a primary election but became a candidate through the intervention of godfathers, ( including prominent sons of Owerri Zone like late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu), who strictly zoned the governorship position to Imo West senatorial district (Orlu Zone).
Udenwa was challenged by Dr Ezekiel Izuogu, the All People’s Party, APP, candidate from the same Orlu zone, who was heavily favoured to win in the election but he was not so lucky as Udenwa went on to be declared elected against the wishes of Imo people.
Udenwa allegedly lost woefully to Izuogu but still became governor due to the overwhelming influence of godfathers of Imo politics then and impunity of the electoral umpire.
When Imo political godfathers then zoned the governorship position strictly to Imo West Senatorial Zone – it was a clear case of Charter of Equity in action even Late Barrister Humphrey Anumudu from Owerri Zone was denied the governorship ticket he won by the godfathers, who were bent on keeping the tenets of the Charter of Equity but the self-seeking OPOCA and some other groups from Imo West Senatorial District have forgotten so quickly and are kicking against it today – as if they control the affairs of men. Such position flies in the face of common sense, exacerbates the Imo political fault line and smacks of arrogant desperation.
In addition, the position of OPOCA and some other groups on the Charter of Equity is an insult to the revered members of Imo State Elders Council, who thoughtfully prepared the charter of equity for power balancing in the state.
One thing necessary is that OPOCA needs to change its provocative and divisive stance with the understanding that there is neither supremacy nor exclusivity in Imo politics and that Imo State belongs to all Imo people equally.
Olu Owerri Zone, will henceforth counter any onslaught or harassment emanating from OPOCA or any other group from any section of the State targeting any Owerri Zone son or daughter, decisively, and this is premised on the fact that there is no empire and no dominion in Imo State. Enough is enough.
– Prince Ben AHANONU
Spokesperson,
OLU OWERRI ZONE