The Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide has criticised governors of the South-East geopolitical zone over their absence at the 60th memorial anniversary of Nigeria’s first indigenous military Head of State, the late Maj. Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.
The group described the governors’ absence from the event as a display of indifference to issues of historical and cultural importance to Ndigbo.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday during the commemoration, the National President-General of the council, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, expressed disappointment over what he called the “nonchalant attitude” of South-East political leaders.
According to him, the governors of Imo, Hope Uzodimma; Ebonyi, Francis Nwifuru; Enugu, Peter Mbah; and Anambra, Charles Soludo, failed to honour the memory of Aguiyi-Ironsi despite his place in Nigeria’s history.
“It is disheartening that South-East governors failed to attend the memorial anniversary of the first Nigerian indigenous Major General and military commander of Igbo extraction,” he said.
Igboayaka argued that the absence of the governors portrayed a lack of respect for the late military leader and other prominent Igbo personalities.
“If Aguiyi-Ironsi belonged to another major ethnic group, such an event would most likely have attracted the presence of political leaders from that region,” he claimed.
The Ohanaeze youth leader also criticised members of the National Assembly of Igbo extraction for failing to attend the memorial.
He said the absence of federal lawmakers reflected what he described as a lack of unity and commitment among political leaders from the region.
“It is disappointing that none of the National Assembly members of Igbo extraction attended the memorial. This shows the absence of unity of purpose among our leaders,” he stated.
Igboayaka urged South-East governors and other elected officials to place greater emphasis on preserving the region’s history and promoting causes that unite the Igbo people.
He said the annual Aguiyi-Ironsi memorial should be expanded beyond ceremonial wreath-laying to include intellectual discourse, cultural exhibitions, historical reflections and policy engagements aimed at strengthening the political and economic future of Ndigbo.
“The memorial should become a platform for strategic discussions, cultural celebration and youth empowerment that will advance the interest of Ndigbo,” he said.
The council further alleged that the current crop of political leaders had failed to provide purposeful leadership for the South-East.
It claimed that many of them had also stayed away from other significant Igbo events, including Biafra Heroes and Heroines remembrance activities and the Igbo Carnival.
Calling on Igbo voters to become more active ahead of the next general election, Igboayaka urged them to use the ballot to demand accountable leadership.
“Ndigbo must use the 2027 ballot to retire leaders who have failed to protect and advance the collective interest of the Igbo nation,” he said.If you’d like, I can also make it more investigative and front-page worthy in the classic PUNCH style with a stronger intro and additional balancing paragraphs.
