May 29: Ohanaeze Ndigbo delivers scathing critique of Tinubu so far, demands end to ‘Yorubanization’ agenda

On Thursday, May 29, the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, issued a blistering critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, marking its second anniversary with a call for urgent economic reforms, national unity, and cabinet overhaul.

In a joint press statement released by factional Deputy President-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and spokesperson Thompson Ohia, the group declared that there was “nothing to celebrate” in Tinubu’s two years in office, describing the government as a “failure marred by experimental leadership and ministerial incompetence.”

Ohanaeze expressed deep concern over “pervasive hunger, spiraling inflation, and failed economic policies,” calling them the direct result of ineffective governance. The group stressed that the hardships endured by Nigerians over the past two years are a consequence of “a cadre of incompetent ministers and political appointees.”

“The challenges confronting our nation, from soaring inflation to food insecurity, stand as stark reminders of the disconnect between the leadership and the populace. This is an urgent call to action and a poignant opportunity for President Tinubu to reconnect with the masses,” the statement read.

The organization urged President Tinubu to “summon his righteous resolve” to abandon what it termed the “Yorubanization agenda,” which it warned undermines national cohesion. Ohanaeze called instead for a governance model rooted in competence and merit, not ethnic favoritism.

In a rare moment of praise, the group commended Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for “visible and verifiable” infrastructural achievements, urging the president to “introduce proven leaders like Umahi and Wike” into more significant roles to restore public confidence.

Key demands and warnings included:

• Immediate cabinet reshuffle to remove underperforming ministers.

• Reversal of failed economic policies to tackle food insecurity and hardship.

• Abandonment of ethnically skewed appointments in favor of inclusivity.

• Creation of two additional Southeast states to ensure equitable representation.

• Inclusion of ethnicity and religion in the 2025 National Census to guide restructuring.

• Proactive leadership to avoid losing political allies and voter confidence before the 2027 elections.

Ohanaeze also hinted at shifting political allegiances, warning that President Tinubu’s Northern support base could erode if reforms are not urgently implemented. They emphasized that the Igbo electorate, spread across the country, could prove decisive in 2027, especially if the upcoming census reveals the true demographic strength of the North.

“The uncomfortable truth must be conveyed unequivocally: President Tinubu’s two-year scorecard is heavily tainted by the incompetence and corruption of his appointed officials,” the statement concluded. “We implore President Tinubu to seize this critical moment as an opportunity for deep introspection and reform.”

Ohanaeze’s statement adds to growing pressure on the Tinubu administration amid rising public dissatisfaction with the state of the economy and governance.