The prominent Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has delivered a pointed message to President Bola Tinubu, cautioning him against banking on state governors’ endorsements and political defections to win the 2027 presidential election.
In a comprehensive statement issued Tuesday by Deputy President General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and National Spokesman Chief Thompson Ohia, the organization called for urgent dialogue with nonviolent pro-Biafra leaders to address what they describe as decades of Igbo marginalization.
The group characterized the current period as an unprecedented opportunity to resolve the long-standing Biafra conflict, emphasizing that this represents “perhaps the singular opportunity in 55 years to definitively resolve the protracted Biafra conflict.” They criticized the federal government’s reluctance to engage with Biafran leaders as a grave miscalculation that could have far-reaching consequences for both the region and the nation.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo specifically warned President Tinubu against placing undue confidence in gubernatorial endorsements, which they described as “ephemeral political endorsements” that often reflect “self-preservation rather than genuine loyalty.” The organization drew historical parallels to the 2015 elections, citing how such strategies proved problematic for former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The statement highlighted that nonviolent pro-Biafra activists have maintained peaceful agitation for over 23 years without engaging in violence or confrontation with government authorities. These leaders, according to Ohanaeze, have become the moral voice opposing systemic injustices and harsh conditions affecting the Southeast population.
Particularly striking was the organization’s assertion that Southeast governors’ influence has significantly waned, rendering their endorsements “effectively meaningless.” Instead, they argued that “the predominant voice in the region now rests with the Nonviolent Pro Biafra Agitators, who possess the capacity to galvanize and mobilize the populace across the 774 Local Government Areas.”
The organization warned that the Southeast region faces the risk of political marginalization, potentially falling under the influence of opposition coalitions aimed at undermining President Tinubu’s administration. They suggested that the 2027 election will function as a referendum on the pervasive issues of hunger and poverty plaguing the nation.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasized that President Tinubu’s political survival depends on his willingness to engage genuinely with the Igbo people. They noted that nonviolent pro-Biafra leaders have extended “a handshake of reconciliation” that represents a historic opportunity for meaningful dialogue.
The statement concluded with an appeal for collective advancement toward a future built on dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation, stressing that “the time for action is now.” This appeal comes as President Tinubu commemorates his second year in office, with Ohanaeze positioning this moment as crucial for healing wounds that have persisted since the Nigeria-Biafra War ended over half a century ago.
