…Youths vow to resist imposition.
There is palpable anger, and frustration on the faces of residents and people of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State with citizens and electorate expressing bitterness over the planned imposition of Hon. Larry Chikwe as executive Council chairman.The situation is similar to what obtain in Ihitte Uboma and Aboh Mbaise LGAs where it is claimed that the Governor has adopted his LGA Liaison officers turned Sole Administrators,SOLAD as Executive Council Chairmen in the yet to be conducted 2024 Council elections.Though the list of those who emerged candidates of APC for both the Council chairmanship and councilorship has not been released to the public by the leadership of the party in Imo State, indications are rife that the list of those penciled down by the governor has been sent to ISIEC for clearance and publication or pronouncements as elected chairmen and councilors in the 27 LGAs,and 305 electoral wards.
Indications are also rife that the Governor has made up his mind on his choice of GLOs transmitting to Council Chairmen.The evidence emerged the very day,he arrived at the APC state Headquarters Okigwe road, Owerri and forced the state, LGA leadership and stakeholders to embrace the option of consensus in selecting, choosing and adopting the candidates in place or direct or indirect primary elections . Some doubting Thomas’ ignored the signal and went on to bribe party officials and notable leaders for endorsement.
While there is still disquiet in some of the affected LGAs,the people of Aboh Mbaise LGA were the first to raise alarm over the imminent danger and possible breakdown of law and order ,if the imposition of candidates by Governor Hope Uzodinma is sustained.They also drew the attention of the Governor to the conflagration of crisis and torching of house and Police stations across the state as bitter consequences and implications of his undemocratic decision to impose his alleged cronies on the communities as Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates.From Aboh Mbaise to the neighbouring Ahiazu Mbaise LGAs,it has been one frayed nerve or the other necessitating our reporter to carry out the needed investigation to ascertain the level of acceptance of the Governor’s unpopular impositions or so it seems.
Apart from indigenous workers at Ahiazu Mbaise LGA rejecting in it’s totality any form of imposition,those in the communities and hamlets explained that it is unheard of.
One Victoria Uche at umuokirika Ekwereazu, explained that over the years or better still,since the return to democracy in 1999,the leaders had adopted a zoning or rotational arrangement such that at no time has the two component clans of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA producing both the Chairman and member of the State House of Assembly. In the instant case,it is rumoured that both the member representing Ahiazu Mbaise LGA in the State House of Assembly and Hon.Larry Chikwe are believed to have been adopted as APC Chairmanship Candidate for the September 21 Council elections ;are from the same clan.
This anomaly nevertheless negates the Governor’s directive that zoning must be observed, religiously.
Besides, it was gathered from Umumbiri where a handful of voters volunteered to respond to questions on their reaction to the political development with Larry Chikwe’s imposition on the party by the Governor.Anger and bitterness were visibly written on the faces of the people who retorted;”are we expected to die for Larry Chikwe.Does the Governor see him as indispensable and is Ahiazu Mbaise LGA lacking men with managerial acumen, ingenuity or sterling leadership qualities, warranting the appointment and selection of Larry Chikwe by Uzodinma, whenever the need arises”?
They vowed to resist,reject and discountenance with such insensitive imposition that is not only an affront but a dirty slap on their faces.At the famous Ahiara junction and round about,some commuters and shop owners who fled the place following the killing of Police men including the DPO and who are just resettling back for business after law enforcement agents assured them of their safety advised the governor against stoking fire that might aggravate the already threatening insecurity.They also drew the attention of the Governor to the rising tension and blood letting in the state, with restive youths ,bandits and thugs reported to have set the otoko police station in Obowo LGA on fire as a result of the rumours that the governor plans to return a certain set of his appointees with whom he has allegedly entered into a pact,come what may.They also reminded the Governor that with Ahiazu Mbaise LGA proximity to Isiala,Ehime Mbano and Ihitte Uboma LGAs,it remains a flash point for violence and high level of insecurity.
They noted that except the Governor is interested in creating problems in the area with his choice of candidates,if not he should be the last person to renege on his vow never to impose, manipulate or misappropriate the fast approaching Council elections.
Finally ,they are surprised that the present administration which is essentially a product of the controversial Imo Charter of Equity which denied Owerri zone their turn and birthright of producing a Governor in both 2011 and 2019 should add salt to the injury by contemplating of imposing Larry Chikwe who was the Liaison officer, GLO during the Governorship election of November 11,2923 .
They also alleged that Governor Uzodinma hates Mbaise people, if he gets away with such imposition this time around.
“Of the thousands of people who have worked for hope in Ahiazu from 2019 to date, why will Larry Chikwe, who has served as Interim Management Committee chairman (IMC), Special Adviser door to door, LGA elections monitor, and presently Sole Administrator,SOLAD be given the ticket to be the next executive chairman.
“When will others who worked for Hope be compensated for their hard work, commitment, and loyalty to the party ,if only one person will continue to benefit. How does recycling one person for over 5 positions at the expense of thousands of others reflect the maxim that “onye ruora Hope, oma mna di egwu”.
