Igbo youths dissociate from Tinubu’s endorsement

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, has said the South-East’s long-standing aspiration to produce Nigeria’s president remains attainable, provided the region pursues its objective through strategic patience, wider political engagement and alliances capable of commanding broad national support.

In a commentary issued in Abuja yesterday, Nkwocha argued that while the quest for an Igbo presidency is legitimate and enjoys growing national recognition, its realisation depends on building enduring political partnerships across Nigeria rather than relying on short-term political calculations.

He said the presidency in Nigeria is secured through broad-based consensus, trust and sustained coalition-building, stressing that no region can attain the country’s highest office without forging meaningful relationships across the nation’s diverse political and ethnic constituencies.

According to him, the South-East’s presidential ambition should be viewed as a national project that requires careful planning, inclusiveness and strategic engagement with other geopolitical zones.

“The aspiration remains both legitimate and attainable. However, it must be pursued with patience, strategic thinking and a commitment to building alliances that inspire confidence across the country,” Nkwocha said.

He maintained that Nigeria’s democratic experience has consistently demonstrated that successful presidential bids are products of years of political investment, consensus-building and cross-regional collaboration rather than hurried political arrangements.

The presidential aide observed that enduring political victories are built on trust and shared interests, noting that regions seeking national leadership must cultivate relationships that transcend electoral cycles and partisan considerations.

Nkwocha further argued that while many Nigerians acknowledge the principle of equitable political inclusion, translating that aspiration into electoral success requires deliberate engagement with stakeholders across the North, South-West, South-South and other parts of the federation.

He said the South-East would strengthen its presidential prospects by deepening dialogue, expanding national partnerships and presenting a unifying vision capable of attracting support beyond its traditional political base.

MEANWHILE, Igbo youths under the auspices of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), have distanced themselves from a recent statement credited to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, claiming that governors of the region have resolved to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

They have attributed Uzodimma’s declaration to his “personal political opinion and that of any governor who chooses to associate with it,” stressing that it was neither the collective position nor the mandate of the people of the South-East.

In a statement signed by its National President, Goodluck Ibem, COSEYL stated that no governor, irrespective of his office or political affiliation, possessed the constitutional, political or moral authority to mortgage the votes of the people of the South-East or make electoral commitments on their behalf.

“The era when a handful of political office holders presumed they could dictate the democratic choices of millions of citizens is over.

“The South-East has not taken any position on the 2027 presidential election. The region has not endorsed any candidate, political party or political arrangement. When the time comes, the people will freely evaluate every aspirant based on competence, justice, equity, national inclusion, security, economic performance and commitment to addressing the legitimate aspirations of Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole”, they said

They reminded Uzodimma that the governors of the South-East would not determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.