Actor turned politician Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the South-East has never experienced the level of economic hardship it currently faces under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, October 19, 2025, the actor-turned-politician described the current situation in the region as unprecedented, claiming that the people have become significantly poorer than under any previous government.
Okonkwo cited the sharp rise in petrol prices from ₦195 to ₦1,000 per litre and the depreciation of the naira from approximately ₦420 to the dollar to nearly ₦1,500 as key indicators of economic decline.
Okonkwo wrote, “Tinubu is certainly not a partner in purpose for the welfare and destiny of the people of South-East, having increased fuel price from N195 per litre to N1,000 per litre and depreciated naira from about N420 to a dollar to about N1,500 per dollar. South-East has never been poorer in any regime like they are now in Tinubu’s regime.”
He also alleged that the property of South-East citizens is being arbitrarily seized or destroyed without adherence to due process, painting a picture of growing marginalisation and economic exclusion.
He criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling it an anti-South-East and anti-people party, and accused the region’s governors who support President Tinubu of failing to protect the interests of their constituents.
Okonkwo argued that their alignment with the current administration appears more self-serving than strategic, with no real negotiations or tangible benefits secured for the region.
He particularly called out Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah who recently defected to the APC, warning that his close political alignment with Tinubu may jeopardise his political future.
According to Okonkwo, Mbah’s support for the President, in the absence of clear gains for the South-East, could cost him re-election and result in him being a one-term governor.
The statement further criticised the structure of Tinubu’s government, drawing attention to the lack of significant representation for the South-East.
With only one substantive minister from the region remaining in the federal cabinet following the exit of the former Minister of Science and Technology over an alleged certificate scandal, Okonkwo questioned the fairness of a government he says marginalises a region that is overwhelmingly Christian.
In his view, continued support for the current administration will only delay the South-East’s prospects for national leadership, while backing the opposition could open the door for a presidential or vice-presidential opportunity as early as 2027 or 2031. See, More, Here>>>
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