Can President Bola Tinubu win back the South-East before 2027 without first saying sorry? That is the big question Ohanaeze Ndigbo is throwing at Aso Rock.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo says President Tinubu and the APC owe the Igbo an apology for what it calls discrimination, political marginalisation and insecurity under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement on Friday by its factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Prof Chibuikeya Achoakawa, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group said the 2027 election is Tinubu’s chance to rebuild trust.

This isn’t just politics on paper. For many families in the South-East, the Buhari years felt personal, from that infamous 2015 “97% vs 5%” comment, to complaints about lopsided federal appointments and the heavy security presence that made everyday life harder. Ohanaeze says that feeling of being left out of the Nigerian federation is what fuelled anger, and in some cases, separatist agitation.

The group was quick to say it does not support violence, but it wants government to deal with the root causes: justice, dialogue and protecting innocent citizens.

“President Tinubu has an opportunity to distinguish his administration by pursuing a different path — one defined by fairness, reconciliation, inclusive governance,” the statement read.

Numbers don’t lie. The South-East is the only zone with five states, while others have six or seven. The region has not produced a president since 1999, and APC’s votes from the zone have remained the lowest since 2015. With 2027 around the corner, Tinubu will need more than roads and bridges, he will need trust.

For context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo was formed in 1976 to be the collective voice of Igbo people after the Civil War. Its core demand has always been true federal character, equal access to power and resources.

Buhari’s administration from 2015-2023 was dogged by accusations of exclusion, which his aides repeatedly denied, pointing to projects like the Second Niger Bridge. But the perception of marginalisation stuck.

What Ohanaeze wants next:

A formal acknowledgement of past grievances.

Real political inclusion, not just votes, but a shot at Senate Presidency or House Speakership after 2027, plus strategic ministerial portfolios.

A proper feasibility check on the proposed deep-sea port at Akwaete in Ukwa West, Abia State.

Their message to APC is blunt: stop seeing the South-East as a ballot bank you only visit during campaigns.

Source/ cbinews.tv

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