Former Managing Director/CEO of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Hon. Chief Charles Orie, speaks on his achievements in office, his long-standing relationship with H.E. Governor Hope Uzodimma, and why he is being urged to contest the 2027 Imo State governorship election. In this exclusive interview, he addresses his ambition, what drives his leadership vision, and his response to the controversial Imo charter of equity.

Please introduce yourself
Thank you. My name is Honourable Chief Charles Orie. I’m from Umuokenne in Ohaji, Imo State.

You served as the MD of ISOPADEC. What were your achievements during your tenure?
When His Excellency appointed me as MD, many doubted I would succeed — but with his support, we proved them wrong. Within my first 100 days, we commissioned over 40 projects across the oil-producing LGAs. In Akri, Oguta LGA, we built a new primary school, a health centre, police station, and installed solar street lights. In Ngor-Okpala, we constructed a health centre and two solar boreholes. Ohaji/Egbema saw major renovations of health centres, water projects, and solar lighting.

We later completed three 20-bed modern general hospitals — at Omuma (Oru East), Oguta, and Umuokenne (Ohaji/Egbema). These hospitals are fully equipped with world-class medical equipment. We also built a brand-new concrete bridge in Oguta LGA at Senator Arthur Nzeribe’s community road — a first of its kind in the history of ISOPADEC.

By the time I left office, we had also renovated Awomamma, Oguta, Akuma, Amiri, and Mgbirichi General Hospitals. Built the new Awomamma Acquisition Centre. Initiated renovation works at Agwa General Hospital, Oguta LGA, Awara Health Centre, Ohaji, and Mgbra General Hospital, Egbema. Started construction of 24 primary schools across the oil-producing LGAs.

Apart from infrastructure, I championed social investments — from youth and women empowerment to monthly support for traditional rulers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. I personally funded drugs for the ISOPADEC clinic at the HQ to cater to indigent residents, ISOPADEC staff, and traditional rulers. Everything we did is verifiable, and thanks to the Governor’s unwavering support.

What was your relationship like with Governor Hope Uzodimma during and after your time at ISOPADEC?
His Excellency, Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, is not just a friend; he is my elder brother. Everybody who knows the two of us in Nigeria calls him my elder brother. Even you guys in Abuja here know that Governor Hope has been my friend and brother. It remains like that forever because we have no issues with each other at all.

I would like to take you down memory lane: before Governor Hope Uzodimma became a politician, as a private businessman, I accompanied him everywhere he went, both here in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. I can recall several locations where he was handling projects at Cocoa Port, Delta State (NDDC project, shoreline protection jobs) — I accompanied him to site regularly. Also, his Calabar Port dredging contracts — from the flag-off to regular site visits — I accompanied him. We did everything together. I went everywhere with him, no matter my own personal schedule; he would ask that I accompany him.

As Senate Committee Chairman of Customs and Aviation, I accompanied him to most of his oversight functions in Uyo, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, and so many other places. For those who don’t know my relationship with him, I don’t believe that there is any politician in Imo State that is closer to him than me. He remains my elder brother, my friend, my leader, and the Governor of Imo State. For the 99% who don’t know how we started, their eye service and gossip will never stop our relationship. What you people are now is “food is ready, come and eat,” because they have no idea where we are coming from.

As a politician, I stood by him. I organised the very first meeting that urged him to run for Senate in 2010 at Sun City Hotel in Owerri. I organised a lot of our men from Orlu Senatorial Zone to urge him to run for Senate and take over from Senator Osita Izunaso. That is how we put pressure on Ikedi Ohakim to support H.E. Governor Hope Uzodimma for the 2011 senatorial elections, and everything became history — we won the election.

For his second-term senatorial election, I was a major player also. In the 2018 APC governorship primaries, I was one of those who urged him to leave the Senate and run for Governor under the APC. We collectively worked with him, and he became the APC governorship candidate. When he became the candidate of APC, he sent me to Owerri to organise Imo State politicians before he arrived. I was in Imo State for three weeks, formed Friends of Hope Campaign Organisation in my country home, Umuokenne, and sponsored several meetings before moving the meeting to Oxygen Hotel, Owerri. Before the big masquerade, the Governor came back to Owerri, joined us, expanded the campaign, and we remained at the Oxygen Hotel Owerri throughout the election, and everything became history today.

From 1999 till Governor Hope Uzodimma became Governor, I have not benefited a dime from any former Governor or politician because they tagged some of us as “Hope boys,” and I agree — because my loyalty all my life has been with him. I served him with love and sincerity. His children and mine are like family. Our bond remains unshakable.

There is speculation about you contesting the Imo governorship in 2027. Are you confirming this ambition, and is the governor supporting you?
Yes. When I resigned from ISOPADEC, I made it clear in my letter that I needed time to prepare for 2027. The Governor is aware. And I believe the right thing is for him to support me, just as I supported him for years, even before he ventured into politics.
Right now, people — from Abuja, Lagos, and the Imolites in the diaspora and within Imo State — are urging me to contest. I’ll make my decision known at the right time.

What inspires your ambition to govern Imo State?
Governor Uzodimma’s performance is my greatest inspiration. He proved doubters wrong, just as I did at ISOPADEC.
Look around: the Owerri-Orlu highway, the Owerri-Okigwe highway, the Owerri-Umuahia Mbaise highway, and the dualised Owerri-Port Harcourt road from Assumpta to the Secretariat — they are all game changers.

He negotiated with the Catholic community to build one of the best concrete bridges in Imo’s history. Now he’s rebuilding Concord Hotel to become the finest in the South-East/South-South, and also the Owerri urban renewal, etc.

His health insurance policy ensures women give birth free of charge in rural communities. These are legacy projects, and I want to consolidate on them.

I’m a builder — literally and figuratively. People know me across Imo State. I’ve built men for 40 years through scholarships and empowerment. So I don’t need an introduction to lead because I am very popular in the state and Nigeria. I don’t need to be introduced in Abuja because my name is like Coca-Cola. I have my own mind, just like the Governor. And we need such independence to govern effectively.

What would you say is your legacy as MD/CEO of ISOPADEC?
I have mentioned it at the beginning.
My legacy is the construction and equipping of 20-bed ultra-modern general hospitals at Oru East LGA, Oguta LGA, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, and a concrete bridge at Oguta, and many other things. You can do your findings.

What’s your take on the so-called Imo Charter of Equity regarding rotation of governorship?
I’m not contesting based on any Charter of Equity. I’m running as an Ohaji-Egbema man. I’m from the oil/gas-producing community of Ohaji-Egbema, so I am running this election as an Ohaji-Egbema man. We’ve been marginalised for decades. Since 1999, everybody who has governed Imo State is from the other side of Imo State.  Equity demands that the Ohaji-Egbema side of Imo gets a turn to govern. So I’m not moved by any “Charter of Equity” that wasn’t honoured in past elections.

We have the largest gas deposit in the whole of Africa. We also have a lot of oil wells and Adapalm in Imo State. If Adapalm is handled very well, the state can give employment to 5,000 youths. So, everything giving Imo State revenue today is from Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta. So it’s right that this side of Imo State should produce a Governor next. Talking about Charter of Equity, I will not join issue with it. Whoever wants equity must come with clean hands.

When Governor Uzodimma won in 2023, candidates from Owerri and Okigwe went to the Supreme Court. If they had won, would we be talking about equity now? There is no Charter of Equity in my programme. I will come out for this election because I am from Ohaji-Egbema.

If you eventually declare, what kind of change would you bring to Imo State?
Well, we still have time. I have not declared my ambition to run. People are urging me to come out. When that time comes, I will expand on it. But for now, I haven’t declared. When I do, I’ll present a full manifesto.

Finally, what message do you have for the people of Imo State as they look ahead to 2027?
Let’s not overheat the polity. The Governor, H.E. Hope Uzodimma, still has over two years left. We should give him support to complete his work.

He has said he wants to hand over to someone competent — someone who will continue his legacy. That person must have vision, capacity, and the heart to serve. That’s what I represent.