Okoro, a former ally of Atiku and one of his prominent supporters in the South East, described Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, as the most suitable candidate to lead Nigeria at this time. He maintained that Obi has the competence and capacity required to address the country’s challenges.
Speaking in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Okoro said the choice of Nigeria’s next president should be guided by sound political judgment rather than ethnic sentiments. He called on Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, to demonstrate political maturity by supporting Obi and allowing the South to complete its turn in power before the presidency returns to the North in 2031.
The former government official also criticised the All Progressives Congress led Federal Government over what he described as the unfair treatment of the South East. He argued that several pressing concerns affecting the region remained unresolved despite the APC’s control of the federal government.
Okoro expressed particular concern over the decline of railway services in the South East, saying the region had been excluded from major federal railway investments made in other parts of the country. He questioned why the zone continued to experience such infrastructure gaps despite the billions of naira reportedly borrowed to improve rail transportation nationwide.
According to him, the situation reinforces concerns about the marginalisation of the South East and raises questions about the ruling party’s commitment to the region. He argued that a political party seeking electoral support from the zone should demonstrate that commitment through fairness, inclusion and meaningful development.
Okoro warned that political loyalty should not be taken for granted when a region believes its interests are being neglected. He urged South East leaders to look beyond party affiliations and work together to address issues affecting the people.
On the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu, Okoro called on governors in the South East and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to unite and pursue a coordinated effort towards securing his release.
He criticised the region’s political leaders for failing to show sufficient unity and determination on the matter, insisting that Kanu’s case should be treated as a regional concern rather than a partisan issue.
The former Abia State official also rejected the suggestion that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma could speak for the entire Igbo nation on major political matters. He maintained that no single political leader should claim the authority to determine the collective position of Ndigbo without broader consultation and consensus.
Okoro urged political leaders across the South East to rethink their approach to national politics and prioritise the region’s shared interests over individual ambitions. He argued that greater unity would strengthen the zone’s influence in national decisions and improve its ability to negotiate for fairness within the Nigerian federation.
The octogenarian cautioned the region’s political elite against sacrificing collective interests for personal political gains, stressing that the South East would achieve more if its leaders spoke with one voice.
His comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify consultations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with regional representation, opposition cooperation and the South East’s place in Nigeria’s political landscape expected to remain major issues.
