By Nworisa Michael
The Governor of Peter Mbah has called on the people of the South-East to return to strategic political engagement in order to regain relevance in national decision-making ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mbah made the call on Tuesday while receiving leaders and members of the City Boy Movement, a group advocating the reelection of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Government House in Enugu.
The governor lamented that the South-East had in recent years become politically fragmented and disconnected from the centre of power, noting that such a situation had reduced the region’s influence in national affairs.
According to him, the political forebears of the Igbo people were known for pragmatic and strategic politics rather than emotional or isolationist approaches.
“If you go back in history and talk about our forebears, they were always willing to have a handshake across the Niger whenever it became necessary,” Mbah said.
He stressed that Igbo leaders of the past ensured the region was always present where critical decisions affecting the country were taken, adding that such political positioning should not be allowed to disappear.
Mbah further pointed out that the South-East currently lacks adequate representation in the country’s hierarchy of power.
“We are not even at the table where critical national issues are discussed. If you look at the order of protocol in this country today, the order of succession, we are nowhere,” he said, noting that the region should ordinarily occupy the sixth position through the office of the Deputy Speaker.
The governor, however, expressed optimism that the region was beginning to retrace its steps, stating that leaders across the South-East were now speaking with one voice.
He also commended the economic policies of President Tinubu, acknowledging that while the reforms initially caused economic hardship, they were helping to stabilise macroeconomic conditions and address uncertainties in the foreign exchange market that previously discouraged foreign investors.
Mbah expressed confidence that the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda would deliver more visible benefits to Nigerians and ultimately secure the president’s reelection.
“We must not allow ourselves to be deceived again. We have to align ourselves strategically by being analytical, objective and dealing with political reality rather than illusion,” he said.
“Given the policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the president will easily win his reelection. We need to be smart enough to ensure we are at the centre of the political game and not on the margins again.”
Earlier in his remarks, the South-East Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, businessman Obinna Iyiegbu, acknowledged that the region had lost significant political ground due to what he described as isolationist politics.
Iyiegbu, widely known as Obi Cubana, said the South-East had learnt important lessons and must now rebuild strategic alliances with other regions in order to protect its long-term political interests.
He noted that although the Igbo people had historically been one of the pillars of Nigeria’s political structure, recent developments had allowed presidential elections to be won without substantial support from the region.
“As young professionals and businessmen and women, we have come to tell our people that we are solidly behind Mr. President and his reelection bid,” he said.
“Ala Igbo has to be taken to the centre. We must reconnect to the gas infrastructure, the rail network and many other opportunities that come from being connected to the centre of power.”
Iyiegbu added that the region could not afford to maintain political hostility toward whoever holds power at the centre, stressing that when the time eventually comes for the South-East to produce a president, the support of other regions would be necessary.
Also speaking, the State Director of the movement, Emeka Mammah, and its State Patron, Charles Mbah, praised Governor Mbah for the ongoing developmental projects in Enugu State.
They said the transformation taking place in the state had made the work of the movement easier and pledged to mobilise support to ensure landslide victories for both President Tinubu and Governor Mbah in future elections.
