Igbo Youth Leaders Urge Tinubu to Consider More Southeast Youths in Next Appointments

By Praise Chinecherem

Igbo Youth Leaders in Southeast have called on President Bola Tinubu to include more youths from the region in his various appointments.

They made the appeal in Awka, Anambra state in a communique issued at a convention of the Youth Leaders and Stakeholders drawn from across the seven Igbo speaking States.

The communique was signed by the leader, Igbo Youth leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, Convention Chairman of the Assembly, Mazi Bismark Oji and Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, Uzoh Ifeanyi.

The communique partly reads, “We appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the constitution of the Boards of the various regional development commissions.

“We respectfully request for the expansion of the various boards of the regional development commissions to ensure adequate representation of Igbo youths, whose talents, ideas, and entrepreneurial drive are vital to regional and national development.

“As patriotic Igbo Youths, we remain committed to a peaceful, united, and progressive Nigeria, where
equity, justice, and mutual respect reign. We stand for justice, inclusion, and national transformation.”

The leaders further condemn worsening security situation in various parts of Igbo land, linking it to lingering socio-political grievances, marginalisation and certain government policies aggravating disenfranchisement of several Igbo youths.

The group called on all community youth leaders across Igboland to heighten vigilance by collaborating with local vigilante groups and security agencies to checkmate threat to security in towns, farmlands or forests across the zone.

They also urged Governors in the region to rise above political distractions, prioritize security with urgency or face collective rejection at the polls in 2027.

“We demand that the Security Chiefs issue immediate instructions to their field personnel to cease the harassment and intimidation of innocent Igbo youths.

“We advocate for a working alliance that fosters intelligence-sharing and coordinated response strategies to neutralize real threats and those truly bent on destabilizing Igboland.

“We acknowledge with appreciation the remarkable improvement in security in Anambra State, especially the governor’s success in tackling the menace of Okite which had misled so many of Igbo youths.”

The communique said the convention adopted a proposal to evolve an Integrated Youth Development, with a 5-year strategic action plan, capturing the aspirations of young people in areas that affect their livelihood and production.

It also said the Convention is saddened by the lack of leadership succession plan in Igboland and urges the political elites and leaders to deliberately establish a leadership recruitment, mentorship and succession plan, which will be beneficial to all and sundry without status discrimination.

“We commend the Federal Ministry of Youth Development for convening the upcoming National Youth Confab, a platform that has the potential to shape inclusive policies for the Nigerian Youth.

The Convention has taken a unified stand and shall be presenting an articulated position document
that reflects our aspirations, concerns, and solutions as a critical bloc in the Nigerian Youth demography.

“We urge the Honorable Minister of Youth Development to ensure that the modalities for participation in the confab reflect equity, transparency, and equal opportunity for all ethnic nationalities.

“The Convention resolves and adopted Igbo Youth Leaders / Stakeholders Assembly as name for the Igbo Youth Leadership platform, with Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu as the leader.