Gov Hope Uzodimma’s address to Imo Harmony project for Owerri zone 2027 Guber

I formally welcome all of you to the Imo Government House. You are the landlords of this house, and I urge you to feel free and at home.

Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and you represent the people. First, I must thank you for the wonderful accolades you have showered on me and, in addition, for the vote of implicit confidence. This is a very big trust, and I will cherish it for a long time while working hard to justify it.

I listened to the leader of the delegation, and he made references to some historical aspects of the policies in Imo State. Coincidentally and luckily, I am fully aware of those facts. There are two major and critical things to be happy about in Imo State today.

First, before my emergence, we lost Imo State. But despite everything we went through, we have recovered our state and restored its honor. We must give glory to God for that.

Second, I can only make rules when the society is at peace. If the society is at war, rules don’t work because people will be struggling just to survive. We should thank God that we now have an environment where we can practice good politics. A few years ago, it might not have been possible for us to sit together like this and discuss where the next governor would come from. But today, we can.

In 1999, I was very prominent in the political activities that led to the emergence of Chief Achike Udenwa as the governor of Imo State. I recall the meetings that brought Evan Enwerem from APP to PDP, convincing him to drop his ambition to contest for the governorship. That same meeting also brought Ararume, then chairman of APP, into PDP. We pleaded with Evan Enwerem to go to the Senate instead. The critical players who facilitated Udenwa’s emergence were political leaders who understood the bigger picture.

However, after that, things fell apart, as Chinua Achebe would say. I have always been there, and I consider myself lucky that, even at a young age, my closest friends were much older. This made me a bridge between the young and the old, allowing me to speak from history while also addressing present issues.

I am one of you, and I understand the problems we face. If we truly want to address them, we must tell ourselves the truth: charity begins at home. The political challenges in Imo State can be classified into two factors—external and internal. But power does not come through division and constant conflict.

I took a bill to the House of Assembly to set up the Elders Council. Two principal reasons informed this decision. First, to unite the state so that Igbo people can solve Igbo problems. The Elders Council was created to rise above politics and always speak the truth, no matter how bitter, in the search for a peaceful Imo State. The House passed the law, and the Elders Council was established.

At my first consultative meeting with them, I pointed out that in other states—Ebonyi, Enugu, and Anambra—politicians already know when power will shift to their zones. But in Imo, people spend fortunes, sell properties, borrow money, and sometimes even resort to violence in their pursuit of governorship. Many end up bitter and unable to forgive their brothers. This cycle must end. We must create an atmosphere of peace and pursue our political ambitions in a way that does not breed enmity. That is why we introduced the Charter of Equity.

I believe in the Charter of Equity, and I still stand by it. But the Charter is not meant for individuals—it is for the zones. In politics, you cannot avoid reconciliation, tolerance, and being your brother’s keeper if you truly want peace. We must learn to tolerate each other.

However, very soon, you will see external forces trying to sow confusion. They will approach you, tell you that you are the best candidate for governor, and even offer you money. And once you accept, you will start believing that you are already a governor. But after the elections, you will find yourself abandoned, roaming the streets. That is why people must learn to separate their desires from what is realistically achievable.

If I ask you now to tell me who should be the next governor, the arguments in this room will be endless. That is why we must distinguish between individual interests and collective interests. If we succeed in doing that, our problems will be solved. A person who cannot forgive his brother for past grievances is not fit to be a governor.

I am not discussing politics right now because I still have three years in office—unless, of course, you want to poison me here! But the first step is to create awareness, consult, reconcile, unite, and be our brother’s keeper. This will not only be cheaper for all of us, but it will also make our political system more sustainable.

Remember, we practice partisan democracy in Nigeria. My party is the APC, and naturally, my successor must come from my party. When I took office, I met a state in ruins, with a debt portfolio of ₦298 billion. By 2021, we had reduced it to ₦110 billion. Our internally generated revenue was ₦400 million; today, it is close to ₦5 billion per month. That is governance. I cannot solve all of Imo’s problems, but I will do my best. The person who comes after me should be able to continue the work.

We must use taxpayers’ money for the benefit of the people. While respecting the Charter of Equity, we must also consider merit. Imo State needs a well-focused, bold, and courageous leader. My prayer is that my successor will not be a troublemaker, but someone who will fight if necessary.

So, I urge you: go home, unite, show love to one another, and trust each other. Understand that when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. We should stop being obsessed with finding faults in people. There is no one without faults—including myself. But our prayer should be that a person’s good outweighs their flaws.

Some people thrive on confusion, but one day, when they need help, their brothers may not be there for them. So, I thank you for coming. Let us avoid overheating the political space so we can focus on development.

I believe in the Charter of Equity, but we must handle it with diplomacy, not confrontation. Politics is not war. You must not kill your brother to become a governor. At the end of the day, it is only God who determines who will be governor. Many people fight and even die pursuing what they do not need, instead of focusing on what truly matters.

We must also learn to curb our excessive materialism. Owning multiple properties in Lagos, Abuja, and elsewhere means nothing in the long run. After 60, we all face the same realities—whether it’s diabetes, hypertension, or cholesterol. So, what truly matters is leaving a lasting legacy of service.

When I received the letter for this visit regarding the Harmony Project, I investigated and found that not all world leaders were yet involved. I directed that every leader should come together. The reason is simple: we must reconcile and work as a team.

Let us unite as brothers and sisters. If we allow external forces to divide us, progress will be costly—if not impossible.

I thank you all once again. Please, do me this favor: Unite before coming again.

Nde Uwunu.

Governor Hope Uzodinma.