‘We don’t need zoning to displace APC in Imo’

The founder and initiator of Guardian of the Nation International (GNI), Dr. Linus Okorie, has said that Imo State does not need zoning arrangement to stop Governor Rochas Okorocha and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from perpetrating themselves in power beyond 2019.

The 43-year-old leadership consultant maintained that Imo State couldn’t afford to make another mistake of voting for another set of clueless leadership in another election, stressing that leadership is the root of problems confronting every sphere of human endeavor even in the country.
   
Okorie, who made the assertions yesterday, while addressing some journalists at Rock View Hotels, Owerri, said people like him should be propelled to takeover from Okorocha, to address the problem of leadership skills deficit in the country.

He noted that leadership has been in short supply, as most of those at the helm of affairs are seldom prepared for the task “In simple words, there ‘s been no real leadership,” he said.
  
Dismissing the socio-political situation of Imo State, Okorie said: “It is possible for all to prosper in our state. All that are required include deliberate efforts, and I decided to use myself as a Guinea pig. I challenged myself by seizing every opportunity to lead, and in so doing prepared myself by same strategy, to grow my state and people.”
 
Okorie who hails from Imo West senatorial district, explained that since 25 years ago he has been taking serious thoughts on leadership, pointing out that even when at the Harvard University, he came to the realization that leadership holds the key to development.
  
According to him, “My vision of Imo State is a world-class state with endless possibilities. The mission is to model a world class Imo with endless possibilities through massive human capital development, attraction of global and local resources and unleashing of excellence in governance leading to a productive and robust thriving economy.”
  
Dismissing the zoning format for leadership selection, Okorie said the approach had not helped to place the best in authority. He noted that Okorocha, who hails from same zone as him, have not used his good office to the benefit of his people, saying, “These are some of the things in our mindset, which have not helped us to achieve progress. Zoning should die a natural death. Let us grow with time. I can compete with anybody. Let the best win. People have suffered a lot, poverty does not know any zone.”
  
Okorie dismissed insinuations that he was a front used by the present administration to displace the chances of Owerri zone candidate, saying that it was an insult on his person.  
   
“For too long, we have watched our people wallow in poverty in the midst of abundance. For too long, we have been filled with promises not kept. For too long, we have mortgaged our birthrights for pots of porridge and small change. For too long, we have watched, hoped and waited for a messiah that never came.”