By Amah
Kindly share:
Imo North is restless. Beneath the quiet farmlands and bustling junctions, a growing frustration is simmering, one aimed not at fate, but at the leadership that has failed to live up to its promise. Now, a new wave of voices, youths, professionals, community leaders, and everyday citizens are calling for a change that is bold, credible, and urgent. At the centre of this rising chorus is one name: Attorney Charles Onyirimba. He is neither a career politician nor a transactional leader.
He is a legal luminary with a reputation for integrity, community service, and fearless advocacy. To understand why many believe 2027 must be the turning point for Imo North, and why Onyirimba is emerging as the people’s preferred candidate, we spoke with Mr. Chuks Nwoke, a concerned constituent and outspoken voice in the movement for renewal.
Thank you for availing us of your time.
Thank you. This is a conversation I’ve been waiting to have publicly. Our zone is overdue for a true shift.
Why do you believe the district needs a change now more than ever?
Because the current leadership in Imo North is has not lived up to it’s billing. The district is dying in slow motion. Look around: our roads are collapsing, youth unemployment is soaring, and critical sectors like education and agriculture are practically abandoned. Criminality and violence roam freely across the zone. Representation is supposed to attract attention, investment, and development. Instead, our Senate seat has become a retirement home for politicians who contribute little or nothing but motions of congratulations and excuses.
What we have now is leadership that survives on political patronage rather than performance. They have no legislative creativity, no economic blueprint, and no passion for the people. Imo North deserves a senator who combines intellect with courage, and courage with compassion. That’s why I am calling openly: 2027 must not recycle the old hands.
And that’s where you believe Attorney Charles Onyirimba comes in?
Absolutely. Charles is not just another political aspirant. He is a disciplined legal mind, a bridge-builder, and a proven advocate for the marginalised. For years, we’ve watched him take up cases for widows, artisans, and young people whose rights were trampled. That is leadership, service without the camera, sacrifice without applause.
But more than that, Charles Onyirimba understands development. He understands lawmaking. He understands conflict resolution. He understands the federal character maze that you must navigate to secure projects. He has advised high-level institutions, yet remains deeply connected to his community. That combination is rare.
Many politicians have slogans but no substance. What makes Onyirimba’s record stand out?
Let’s start with his legal career. He is a global citizen who has built a reputation for integrity, not the loud kind that people announce on radio, but the quiet one that follows you into every courtroom, every negotiation, every community encounter. When people say “bring Charles,” they’re not talking about politics; they’re talking about trustworthiness.
Second, he has been consistent. For years, he has supported youth empowerment initiatives, scholarships, mentorship programmes, legal advocacy for abused students, and even small-to-medium business guidance. He didn’t do these things because elections were around the corner; he did them because he genuinely believes in people.
Third, he has ideas, well-researched, practical legislative ideas covering agricultural credits for rural farmers, youth digital incubation hubs, judicial reforms, community policing frameworks, and infrastructural equity. That is the kind of mind we need in the Senate.
Look, development is not magic. It requires clarity of thought, analytical ability, and negotiation power. Charles Onyirimba has all three.
Some argue that the political terrain is too complex for a technocrat or activist-type leader. What do you say to that?
That argument is lazy. Leadership is not the exclusive preserve of career politicians. In fact, career politicians are the reason we are where we are today, stagnant.
Charles has political experience, but he is not contaminated by the usual political mentality of “come, eat, and go.” He is strategic. He listens. He knows the system and how to navigate it without losing his values. And most importantly, he has the goodwill of ordinary people.
The truth is that the people of Imo North are tired of leaders who only visit during campaigns to share crumbs. We want someone who will bring federal presence, not federal excuses.
If you were to make a concise case for Onyirimba, what would it be?
Chuks: Five things:
Intellectual competence:
Charles is one of the sharpest legal minds we have. He understands lawmaking, oversight, and policy formulation. He can read complex documents, negotiate budgets, and push through motions that matter.
Moral credibility:
He is not associated with scandals. He is not a political gambler. He is transparent with money and decisions. That alone will restore dignity to our Senate seat.
Community-minded leadership:
He is one of us, deeply rooted, invested, and concerned. He has been present in our crises, our celebrations, our challenges. He knows the issues not from newspapers but from personal involvement.
Diaspora advantage: He has deep roots in the Diaspora. His invaluable contacts can convince Imo North’s sons and daughters in the Diaspora to invest at home in the spirit of aku ruo ulo. He is a respected voice people yearn to listen to. He is that influential and could create the trajectory for development of the Zone.
Good negotiator: He is surefooted and confident, bold, affable and a good mixer and can easily build a network of friends among his colleagues in the chamber across party lines and regions. Hence he would be able to negotiate and strike deals that will benefit the zone
That is the kind of senator who can stand on the floor of the National Assembly and defend Imo North without shaking or stammering.
What is at stake in the 2027 election for the district?
Everything. Absolutely everything. If we get 2027 wrong, we risk another cycle of underdevelopment, another four years of wasted opportunities. The world is changing, digitally, economically, politically. The Federal Government is moving towards increased resource control, community policing frameworks, youth involvement, and infrastructural decentralisation.
A weak representative will watch these things pass us by. A strong one will position Imo North to benefit. We cannot continue to send people who treat the Senate like a retirement villa or another business deal to be struck. 2027 is our chance to break the cycle.
Does it mean that past Representatives failed?
Not exactly. Nobody intentionally plans to fail. They tried their best but seemed mostly overwhelmed by the weight of the Zone’s needs and expectations. So, their impacts were minimal. Nevertheless, Imo North remains grateful to them for their efforts which are not enough; that was their best.
These expectations were mostly selfish as well. People preferred to eat their dinner at breakfast only to turn around to blame the representatives.
You may be probably right to some extent. However, any leader worth his salt would not succumbed to such arm-twisting. He cannot cite that as excuse for failure; the entire blame is dumped at his doorstep.
So, what message do you have for Attorney Onyirimba himself?
My message is simple: Sir, step forward. The zone needs you. This is not about ambition; it is about responsibility. Many of us in Imo North believe that leadership is not just given; it is demanded. And right now, we demand yours. The suffering is real. The neglect is real. The hope is dimming. You have the competence, the credibility, and the courage to change the narrative. 2027 should not pass without your name on the ballot.
And finally, what would you say to fellow constituents?
Don’t let fear or fatigue silence you. Our zone deserves a senator who will fight for us, speak for us, and deliver for us. We need a new voice, one with clarity, compassion, and conviction. However, we must avoid selling our future for crumbs to politicians today and suffer hunger for four years. Charles Onyirimba represents the future we want, not the past we’ve endured. The time for change is now.
And the vessel for that change is clear.
Thank you, Mr. Nwoke, for your passionate and thoughtful insights.
Thank you. The journey begins now.
