By Saviour Osuoha.
As activities heralding the 2027 General Elections gradually takes the centre-stage of events in Imo state,there has been several calls by several Interest groups, asking the former Executive Chairman of Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state,Hon. Osita Opara(Itoli of Mbaitoli) to take a swipe and run the Senatorial Election, with a view to salvage,or better still,deliver the people of Owerri zone from the shackles of misrepresentation with its associated elusive dividends of democracy witnessed overtime in Owerri Senatorial District (Imo East).
In the light of this,while some of these anchor their beliefs and support for Osita Opara’s generally acceptable score-card and ask him to come and declare interest for the Imo Governorship Seat in the awaited General Elections, others see him as ably qualified to contest and possibly win the Owerri zone’s Senatorial Election, having been tested and trusted as a grassroot- politician with people-oriented pedigree.
Even though, Hon. Osita Opara has not yet mentioned membership of any political party where his teeming supporters can pitch their tent for now,the formidability of his grassroot structure speaks Volume of his personality,coupled with the ability to do job which these interest groups lure him to come up and undertake in their overall good interest.
For obvious reasons, Owerri zone (Imo East Senatorial District) has never had effective representation in the Federal House of Senate (Red Chamber-National Assembly),not just because,it has not only fielded reliable and credible candidates (senators) for the job,but for reasons that bother on the fact that the constituents never had trusted in their Federal legislators, especially those who came to office by way of manipulated polls.This is one of the reasons for which groups like the ILP among others call on Osita Opara to come and test his popularity at the polls with utmost assurances of victory based on his track record.
As a matter of fact, this man of the people with proven integrity and sincerity of purpose as his watchword,has not yet disclosed to anyone that he is interested in contesting for the Senate or Governorship in the awaited Elections.Indications are rife that those interest groups calling upon him to contest the election really wanted him to take up the responsibility of governance to demonstrate yet another measure of benevolence as earlier examplified when he was the Executive Chairman of Mbaitoli LGA, among other public offices so far held by the Mbieri-born young political leader cum technocrat.
One good turn they say,deserves another.Against this background, those who call on Osita Opara to take the lead in ensuring that people of the nine(9) LGAs of Owerri zone are properly represented in the Red Chamber-National Assembly did not forget the acceptable score-card left behind by an Mbieri indigene,who was former Senator for Owerri zone,late Sen.Amah Iwuagwu.
Even though,Sen. Iwuagwu’s stay in the Senate was cut short by death, his legacies left indelible marks on the sands of time as one which projected the image of Mbieri nation, Mbaitoli LGA and the entire Owerri zone in good light.
With the readiness by the people of Imo state to go to polls to elect their representatives in the state, Federal House of Representatives,and Senate,all eyes are on Hon. Osita Opara as one of the top-most contenders in the 2027 race.Expectations of those who want him to join the race are positive minds indeed.
In essence however, for these interest groups to clamour for Hon. Osita Opara’s aspiration ahead of the election,it means that he has one or two meaningful dividends of democracy in the offing to offer his people of Owerri zone, if finally elected into office as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As for those calling on him to contest the Governorship Election,the ILP is of the view that time is not yet uhuru, even as the group beckons on him to settle for the Senate,in order to garner considerable experience to qualify him for the Governorship Seat in the nearest future.
