Igbo youths under the banner of the All Igbo Youth Forum have informed Bola Tinubu that South East governors are misleading both him and the ruling APC. According to the group, it is the youths not elected officials who will ultimately shape the outcome of the 2027 presidential election in the region.
This statement came during a press conference held in celebration of the recent legal triumph of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), in a Kenyan court.
Over 300 youths from across South East states gathered at Awka Hall, Unuahia, where they addressed the press before embarking on a jubilant street procession while chanting solidarity songs.
The group also stated their condition for supporting President Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Recall that on June 26, a High Court sitting in Milimani, Nairobi, ruled that Kanu’s abduction and forced transfer from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 was “illegal.”
Presided over by Hon. Justice E. C Mwita, the court concluded that “the abduction, incommunicado detention, torture, and illegal transfer of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 was unlawful, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights under Kenyan and international law.”
The court found the Kenyan Government and its agencies complicit in the incident and awarded Kanu 10 million Kenyan shillings in compensation.
Calling the judgement “historic and a confirmation that Kanu did nothing to deserve unjust incarceration and continued prosecution,” the youths urged President Tinubu to respond positively to repeated calls for Kanu’s release.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Honourable Chinedum Obilor (also known as Fayose Ohuhu), President General of the All Igbo Youth Forum and former Deputy Chairman of Unuahia North LGA, stated that the support of Igbo youths for Tinubu’s re-election would hinge on Kanu’s release.
He cautioned the President “not to be deceived by empty assurances by Igbo political leaders,” insisting that the youths, not the politicians, would determine Tinubu’s fate in the region.
Hon. Obilor remarked that Tinubu’s support in the South East during the next election would be determined by young people, contrary to what politicians may claim.
He said, “Our Governors are deceiving you. Our Senators and House of Representatives members are deceiving you. They claim to be in charge, but they are not. We, the youths are the ones in charge of Igbo land.
“Come and work with the youths. But if you fail, what happened in the last election will happen again.”
Obilor added, “Kanu’s release is the highest need of Ndigbo,” stressing that Tinubu would not need to offer incentives to secure youth votes if he simply releases Kanu.
“We want President Tinubu to release Kanu. If you do it, you don’t need to give us rice or money to vote for you in 2027. But if you don’t, we will negotiate with anyone willing to release him for us, irrespective of his tribe.
“Mr President, please listen to Igbo youths. Our leaders, including the late President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Chief Mbazurike Amaechi, and others, pleaded for Kanu’s release, but the Federal Government did not heed their pleas. We want you to listen to Igbo youths now. If you do it for us, you will hear from us, but if you refuse to do it you will equally hear from us in the next election.”
They also issued a stern warning to Igbo politicians, asking them to stop using Kanu’s name for political gain, saying the act would no longer be tolerated.
“Our political leaders have to listen to us because they are holding our mandate. And we can use our votes to remove them. We warn them to stop using Kanu’s name to play politics.”
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