By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the apex socio-cultural youth organisation of the Igbo race worldwide, has criticised the absence of governors from the South-East geopolitical zone during the 60th memorial anniversary of Nigeria’s first indigenous military Head of State, the late Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Speaking during a press briefing in Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday, the National President General of the organisation, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, described the absence of the region’s political leaders as disappointing and reflective of what he termed a lack of commitment to issues of historical importance to Ndigbo.
According to him, Governors Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and Charles Soludo of Anambra State did not attend the memorial event held in honour of the late military leader.
Comrade Igboayaka argued that Aguiyi-Ironsi occupies a significant place in Nigeria’s history as the country’s first indigenous Major General and first indigenous military Head of State, adding that such a milestone deserved greater recognition from political leaders of Igbo extraction.
He also expressed concern that, according to the organisation, no member of the National Assembly of Igbo extraction was present at the memorial, describing the development as evidence of what he called a lack of unity among political leaders from the South-East.
The OYC President urged South-East governors and other elected officials from the region to show greater commitment to programmes and events that promote Igbo history, culture and collective interests.
He further proposed that future editions of the Aguiyi-Ironsi Memorial should go beyond ceremonial wreath-laying and evolve into an annual intellectual, cultural and economic summit. According to him, such an event should feature historical lectures, cultural exhibitions, youth engagement programmes and policy discussions aimed at strengthening the political and economic future of Ndigbo.
The youth leader also criticised what he described as the failure of political leaders from the region to participate in other significant Igbo events, including Biafra remembrance activities and Igbo cultural celebrations. He argued that stronger engagement with such programmes would help preserve the history and identity of the Igbo people.
On the political future of the region, Comrade Igboayaka called on eligible voters in the South-East to use the 2027 general elections to elect leaders they believe will better represent the interests and aspirations of Ndigbo. He urged citizens to remain actively involved in the democratic process and hold elected officials accountable through the ballot.
The memorial anniversary commemorated 60 years since the assassination of Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi, whose death during the 1966 counter-coup remains one of the defining moments in Nigeria’s political history.
