In a bid to engender peace and stability in Imo State, the state’s Elders’ Council has adopted a Charter of Equity for the rotation of key political offices among the three senatorial zones in the state. Notable among the offices are those of the governor, deputy governor, and Speaker of the House of Assembly.
This is just as the council endorsed Governor Hope Uzodimma for a second term in office, saying apart from the fact that he has performed creditably, his zone, Orlu should be allowed to complete its term of eight years.
The council, in a communique issued at the end of its quarterly meeting and made available to The Star on Sunday, April 16, 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 its strategic committee headed by Chief Dan Nwanyanwu.
The Imo State Elders’ Council, in a communique signed by its chairman and secretary, HRH Eze Dr Cletus Ilomuanya and Hon Maxwell Duru, respectively, said upon a motion by Prof. Maurice Iwu, it adopted in its entirety the Imo Charter of Equity.
According to the Charter, the governorship of Imo State will rotate among the three senatorial zones of Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri for eight years each. It noted that since 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 added that both the governor and the deputy governor cannot come from the same zone, noting that the governor and the Speaker cannot come from the zone. The council, however, urged other aspirants in the November 2023 governorship election to allow Uzodimma to complete Orlu zone’s eight years tenure after which Owerri zone will take over.
It also 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 stated.
The council noted 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. It further commended the governor for all his developmental efforts since his assumption of office, urging him to set aside a day to brief members of the council on the activities of his government.
The council, therefore, condemned the violence on Igbo in Lagos by some political hoodlums, urging Nigerians to work together for the progress and growth of the country.
