AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR HOPE UZODINMA, CON On the Dangerous Political Conduct of the So-Called Imo Harmony Project (IHP)
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR HOPE UZODINMA, CON
On the Dangerous Political Conduct of the So-Called Imo Harmony Project (IHP)
Your Excellency,
With utmost respect and a deep sense of civic responsibility, I write to you as a concerned citizen, political analyst, and advocate for equity, peace, and good governance in our beloved Imo State. It has become necessary to raise the alarm and draw your urgent attention to the increasingly dangerous antics of a certain group parading itself under the name Imo Harmony Project (IHP).
Sir, for months now, this group has continued to pollute the political space with blackmail, ethnic chauvinism, and brazen falsehood—all in a desperate bid to compel Your Excellency to anoint a successor from Owerri zone under the guise of a phantom “Charter of Equity.” Their most recent conduct—trending a slogan as insensitive and historically volatile as “On Aburi We Stand”—is a clear and present danger to the unity and peace of Imo State.
Your Excellency, invoking the tragic memory of the Aburi Accord—an event directly linked to the Nigerian Civil War which led to the death of over two million of our compatriots—is not only irresponsible, it is deeply provocative, distasteful, and politically reckless. That this is being done in the name of promoting zoning is both insulting to our collective history and a grave disservice to the cause of peace and equity.
Sir, as you have rightly reiterated in various fora, power is not given turn by turn but is instead earned through merit, negotiation, and popular support. Your position is not only consistent with democratic values, it is wise and statesmanlike. Your emphasis on choosing a capable successor who can consolidate and protect your developmental legacy, regardless of senatorial zone, is the leadership Imo desperately needs at this time. The so-called IHP should not be allowed to derail that vision.
IHP’s weaponization of an old video of you speaking with the Imo Elders Council is a clear act of political manipulation. Their repeated circulation of that clip—especially in contexts that clearly contradict your more recent and official positions—is nothing short of digital blackmail. It is not only misleading but also deeply disrespectful to your office and the intelligence of the Imo electorate.
Furthermore, the so-called Charter of Equity being brandished is not a law, not a public consensus, and not binding. It is at best a proposal—one that has faced increasing calls for review by credible voices across the state, including from within Owerri zone itself. Mike Nwachukwu, Chief Vitalis Ajumbe, Chief Paddy Obinna, and Prince Bob Njemanze—respected leaders from Owerri—have all advocated for dialogue with Okigwe zone. Their call is for unity, not coercion. Yet the IHP refuses to listen. They want a political coronation, not negotiation.
Even more troubling is the conflict of interest that taints the leadership of the so-called Equity Committee. Your Excellency, how can a man, Barr. Dan Nwanyanwu from Owerri zone—rumored to be nursing governorship ambitions—be allowed to chair such a sensitive committee? This is morally indefensible. Was there no Orlu or Okigwe elder with credibility and neutrality to handle that assignment? This undermines the credibility of the entire process and insults the intelligence of right-thinking Imolites.
We challenge IHP and the promoters of this phantom charter to present the minutes of its adoption and the list of accredited delegates present. Who recorded the minutes of the meeting? How many members attended the meeting? How many times did the committee sit? What were the committee’s recommendations? Who was present? Was there legislative ratification? Under what legal authority can such a document override the free will of the Imo electorate? Was the citizenry consulted through public hearings? Or was this simply an elite dinner table conspiracy?
This committee, by all indications, never met even once to deliberate on this highly sensitive issue, yet a so-called Charter of Equity was declared in its name. What level of ethical violation could be worse than allowing an interested party to midwife a document that conveniently favors his own personal political interest?
Your Excellency, we have seen what happens when political transition is handled with recklessness and vengeance. From 2011 to 2019, Imo was brought to its knees when then-Governor Rochas Okorocha dismantled the foundational institutions built by your predecessor, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim. Agencies like IROMA, which had assets worth over N12 billion, were scrapped and left in ruins. Roads decayed, institutions collapsed, and the people suffered.
Today, you have restored IROMA and other vital structures of Ohakim’s era. But let us be honest: if your successor is not one who believes in your vision, all you’ve built can be undone in a flash. That is why choosing a competent, loyal, and forward-thinking successor is not just about protecting your legacy—it is about protecting the future of Imo State.
Your Excellency, you must not succumb to blackmail. You must not allow emotional slogans or false narratives to distract you from your mandate. You owe it to history and to the people of Imo State to stand firm, to stay focused, and to act in the best interest of the generality of the people—not a loud political minority with entitlement syndrome.
It is time to call the IHP and their collaborators to order. They do not speak for all of Owerri zone, nor do they speak for Imo people. Their tone is inflammatory, their tactic is desperate and their vision selfish. If left unchecked, their incendiary, belligerent and bellicose, bombastic rhetorics and continued incitement could sow deeper division, cause instability and lead to chaos in the state.
Enough is enough. Let governance continue. Let the people decide. Let Imo thrive in peace.
With highest regards,
Dr Uchenna Ugochukwu,
A Conscience of Peace and Justice in Imo State
Cc:
Senator Osita Izunaso – Senator representing Imo West (Orlu Zone)
Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi – Senator representing Imo East (Owerri Zone)
Senator Patrick Ndubueze – Senator representing Imo North (Okigwe Zone)
Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command – Owerri, Imo State
Director, Department of State Security (DSS), Imo State Command – Owerri, Imo State
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