The first National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, in an interview with The Nigerian Tribune correspondent, shared his views on the ongoing political realignment in the country, the role of the Ndigbo in national politics, and the buildup to the 2027 general election.
When asked what prompted his recent proposal for a summit of Igbo political leaders to mobilise the Ndigbo ahead of the 2027 polls, he explained that since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970, the Igbo had held different kinds of meetings.
He also said, “Without any argument, Igbo people are the largest ethnic group in this country and I have the fact to back it up. We are second in population to the indigenous population in every state of the country.”
He explained that the Igbo had nothing less than 25 per cent of the voting population in every state of the federation, but noted that this impressive number had not been properly explored or coordinated by the Ndigbo for political relevance. He stressed that the gap needed to be filled and that the only way to achieve this was through a political summit.
According to him, the Igbo were the most geographically spread ethnic group in Nigeria, yet they had not been coordinated into the national grid to make a strong political statement or to engage constructively in a meaningful way.
When asked why, despite his claim that the Igbo were the largest ethnic group in the country, this had not translated into an Igbo presidency, he described the place of the Ndigbo in national politics as unenviable and deplorable. He attributed this situation to the failure of the Igbo to take advantage of their God-given blessings. He observed that the Igbo were not respected and seemed to be hated, although he suggested that envy might be a more appropriate description.
Citing an Igbo proverb, he noted that if one was neither loved nor respected, their position as a human being was questionable. He concluded by stressing that it was not good for any race to be unloved or disrespected, adding that efforts must now be made to put an end to this situation.
