Stakeholders Demand Imo Governorship Ticket Zoned to Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta

A coalition of concerned stakeholders from the Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo State has issued a strong demand for the 2028 governorship ticket to be zoned to their oil and gas-rich region. This group, as reported by ThisDay, feels a deep sense of historical marginalization, having never produced a governor since Imo State was created in 1976, despite their significant contributions to the state's economy.

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we have lost countless lives and properties in our lawful struggle for recognition and repositioning. Our patience has worn thin. If Imo State is sincere about building a charter of equity that will endure for generations, then it must first adopt charter of resources,” adding, “justice must precede rotation and contribution must precede entitlement.

In a press conference held in Owerri, the stakeholders articulated their grievances, releasing a communique that stressed the importance of a "charter of resources" alongside any "charter of equity." They argue that excluding the areas that generate the state's wealth from political power is not only unjust but also "hollow and insulting." The group asserts that their patience has worn thin, and they are now demanding justice and recognition for their sacrifices, including lives and properties lost in their pursuit of fair representation.

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we demand with one voice, and in the strongest terms, that the next governor of the state must come from the oil and gas-rich local governments of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.

The stakeholders are calling for a fundamental shift in the state's political calculus, asserting that "justice must precede rotation and contribution must precede entitlement." They believe that the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta possess the necessary human and material resources, vision, and mission to lead Imo State to greater heights. They also pointedly noted the irony of their situation: despite being the source of the state's and nation's wealth through oil and gas, their communities suffer from a lack of basic amenities like roads, hospitals, and schools.

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Our areas are blessed with both human and material resources to take the state and the local government areas to the next level. Governance requires men and women with God-given mission and vision to deliver. We assert boldly: the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta are ready, able, and willing to deliver the state to greatness

From a Nigerian perspective, particularly within Imo State, this demand reflects a long-standing issue of resource allocation and political representation. ThisDay's coverage highlights the complex interplay between regional contributions and political power. The stakeholders' plea is not just about securing a governorship slot; it's about rectifying historical injustices and ensuring that the areas bearing the brunt of resource extraction also reap its benefits. Their appeal to Governor Hope Uzodimma underscores a hope for a collaborative approach to address these grievances, emphasizing that true leadership requires acknowledging and rewarding the contributions of all regions within the state. The narrative of the "goose that lays the golden eggs" being neglected is a powerful one in Nigerian political discourse, and this situation in Imo State exemplifies that struggle.

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we lack essential amenities such as roads, hospitals, schools, and water