Why Is Imo the Deviant among Igbos?

DDM NEWS

The Betrayal of Igbo Political Philosophy

The twin engines of equity and justice have always been the gravitational core of the Igbo worldview—the sacred principles that shape our politics, values, and communal life.

Expressions like “Egbe bere, ugo bere” (let the kite perch, let the eagle perch) and “Elu rie, ala erie” (let both the high and low have their share) are not mere proverbs.

They are the grundnorm of Igbo political consensus—tools that guide leadership rotation, power-sharing, and the forging of fair, inclusive societies.

In Imo State, however, we have watched this foundational principle unravel.

What we now witness is a disturbing deviation—a blatant disregard for the Igbo political ethic that has left our state adrift in chaos and mockery.

A Dangerous Aberration

Over the past 15 years, Imo’s governorship selection processes have repeatedly violated the principle of zonal equity.

Unlike our sister states—Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia—which maintain a culture of equitable power rotation, Imo has descended into a zone of political disorder and ethical decay.

This deviation has become so glaring that our fellow Igbos now mock us in political conversations.

As one Anambra indigene recently put it with scornful pride: “Anambra is not Imo.” Indeed, Imo has become the T.S. Eliot “Hollow Man” of the Southeast: a shell of what an Igbo state should represent—void of the cherished values of justice and order.

Reaping the Whirlwind

As the scriptures warn, “They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.” Imo has sown seeds of political injustice, and today we harvest the bitter fruits: a broken leadership culture, rampant insecurity, crippled governance, and an economy in tatters.

Nowhere is this more evident than in recent data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and FAAC’s Q1 2025 VAT performance report.

Imo State ranked 35th out of 36 states in VAT generation—a stark indicator of economic dysfunction. Only Taraba State performed worse.

Let that sink in: Imo—once the pride of the East—is now trailing states battered by terrorism and banditry in basic economic performance.

If VAT is a proxy for urban and rural economic activity, then Imo’s economy is on life support.

Leadership Failure and the Collapse of Order

Our political system has been hijacked by opportunists who thrive in the absence of ethical guardrails.

With no guiding philosophy rooted in equity, any ruthless figure can manipulate the chaos to ascend to power—leaving behind a trail of failed policies, insecurity, and economic rot.

In this Hobbesian state of nature, where rules no longer matter, leadership becomes a tragic circus—void of vision, values, or accountability.

A Call to Intellectual and Political Reawakening

As scholars and public thinkers, we are familiar with the dialectics of political development.

Leadership outcomes are never accidental; they are the product of prevailing political culture.

In states like Anambra and Enugu, where political equity is institutionalized, you find better governance, thriving economies, and stable societies.

Why, then, must Imo be the outlier?

The answer lies in our deliberate betrayal of the Igbo creed of fairness and justice.

If we continue this path, Imo risks becoming not just a political embarrassment but a regional liability.

2027: The Last Chance for Redemption*

All hope is not lost. As our people say: “Osita di mma, adighi njo”—what starts well cannot end badly.

Though late in the day, 2027 offers Imo a critical opportunity to return to the path of equity and political sanity.

We must rebuild on the principles that define Igbo-bu-Igbo. The road to renewal is clear: equitable zoning, accountable leadership, visionary governance, and a political culture grounded in justice.

Imo must rise again—or risk losing its place at the Igbo table forever.

Dr. Ndubuisi Ugochukwu (Okwadike Imo) is a political economist and public affairs analyst. He writes from Owerri

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