The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that reconciliation between the Northern region and President Bola Tinubu has reached an irreparable state.
According to Ohanaeze, despite numerous presidential appointments and promises of infrastructure development, the alliance that thrived in 2023 has deteriorated. The group claimed that the North has abandoned Tinubu, prompting him to seek new alliances with leaders from the Southeast and Niger Delta, aiming to displace him in the 2027 elections.
This stance was outlined in a statement released on Monday by Ohanaeze’s factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and made available to DAILY POST.
Ohanaeze emphasized that unless Tinubu swiftly reverses critical federal policies and implements substantial corrective measures, the Nigerian masses will align with opposition movements, particularly those led by Northern leaders advocating for leadership change.
The statement urged the Federal Government to adopt a new approach, calling for a credible 2025 National Census that includes ethnicity and religious identity to reveal the country’s true demographics. Ohanaeze argued that the notion of Northern numerical superiority is misleading, asserting that about 39% of the North’s population consists of Igbo communities, 31% are Middle Belt Christians, while Hausa and Fulani account for just 30%. The group noted that the North’s resistance to previous census exercises incorporating such identifiers reflects an awareness of these demographic realities.
Furthermore, Ohanaeze called on the Federal Government to prioritize the needs of the Igbo Nation, asserting that doing so would unify Igbo support across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas and foster a more equitable national dialogue.
Key demands outlined in the statement include:
- The immediate proclamation for the creation of a sixth state in the Southeast.
- Revitalization of the Eastern Economic Corridor.
- Reopening and dredging of the Calabar Seaport, dormant for 57 years.
- Full utilization of the Port Harcourt Seaport.
- Construction of a deep seaport in Azumiri (Ukwa East LGA, Abia State).
- Upgrading the Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu-Maiduguri railway to standard gauge.
- The unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to restore trust and engagement.
Ohanaeze stressed that Tinubu has an opportunity to challenge the perception of Northern numerical dominance through a transparent and inclusive census. The group also called on the Federal Government to extend an olive branch to non-violent Biafra agitators to address the rising insecurity in the Southeast, emphasizing that many self-determination advocates are open to dialogue.
The organization urged the Tinubu administration to recognize the Igbo Nation’s potential and work towards inclusive governance, stressing that collaboration, rather than division, is essential for Nigeria’s unity and progress.