By Edward Tion

I watched the presidential campaign in Akwa Ibom today with a bleeding heart.

Not because I envy Akwa Ibomites. I admire them so very much. I watched a people who understand what politics is for.

Akwa Ibom people came out unanimously. Governor, Senate President, elders, youths, market women, traditional rulers — one voice, one demand: “Give us Ibom Deep Sea Port.”

And the President heard them. On the spot, in Uyo, he approved it. Approved international status for their airport. Because they asked as one people.

That is what unity buys. That is what leadership looks like. That is what politics is supposed to deliver: a port that will open jobs, trade, industries, and a future for millions of unborn children.

Then I looked back home to my own people, the Tiv, and my heart broke.

What do we have to show for all our noise, all our education, all our numbers, all our pride?

Retrogression. Division. Character assassination.

Our educated youths, the very ones who should be building the future, are divided and deployed as foot soldiers in a war over one person’s interest. Not over a project. Not over a port. Not over security. Not over industries. Not over schools. Over one man.

We have reduced the great Tiv nation, a nation of farmers, scholars, warriors, and builders, to a battlefield of who hates who, who insults who, who controls the party structure, who gets the ticket.

What a shame!

Akwa Ibom asked for a Deep Sea Port. What are we asking for?

We are not asking for the revival of our industries. We are not asking for the return of our displaced people. We are not asking for roads that connect our farms to markets. We are not asking for water, for security, for the dualization of federal roads in the state, for anything that will outlive this election cycle.

We are asking: who is loyal to who?

This is not politics. This is psycophancy self-destruction.

Akwa Ibom has taught us a lesson today. Politics is negotiation. Unity is bargaining power. When you speak as one people, even a president listens.

Tiv people, when shall we learn?

When will our leaders sit down, drop their egos, and agree on one single demand for Benue? One project that will change our story for the next 50 years?

When will our youths refuse to be used for character assassinations and instead demand for development, vision, and results?

We cannot continue to fight ourselves while others are building for the future generations.

It is time for Tiv leadership to wake up. It is time for Tiv youths to wake up.

History will not remember who insulted who on Facebook or X. History will remember who built something.

Let us stop fighting over one person, and start fighting for one future.

Tiv Nation Deserves Better. Benue Deserves Better. Nigeria Deserves Better.

By Saint Mugaga

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has called on Igbo elders, leaders and stakeholders to close ranks and speak with one voice in politics, cautioning that disunity has continued to weaken the political strength and heritage of Ndi Igbo of the South East region.

He also urged them to pay more than passive attention to socio-economic issues and get deeply involved into the national politics of Nigeria.

Kalu made the call at the South East Stakeholders’ Convergence (SESC), also described as the South East Elders and Stakeholders Meeting, convened in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday to discuss unity, progress and peace in Igbo land.

Addressing the gathering chaired by the former Military Governor of Imo State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator (Gen) Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), the Deputy Speaker said unity remains the foundation for development, stressing that peace in Igbo communities would only come when leaders reason together in harmony.

He said: “Unity is strength. We will achieve more when we are united. The need for unity cannot be overemphasized. Peace leads to the development of communities”.

Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State at the National Assembly commended the elders for setting aside their personal engagements to attend the meeting, describing their action as patriotism and genuine love for Igbo land.

“I salute you all, my elders and stakeholders for this thoughtfulness, this great idea to come together and discuss the unity, progress and peace of Igbo land. This is patriotism. You all have what you are doing but for you to leave it and come here to discuss the development of our place, it means you love Igbo land. It shall be well with you all,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker said the upcoming and the contemporary younger generation are encouraged by the elders’ example, likening leadership to a relay race in which one generation hands the baton to the next.

“Some of us who are coming up are encouraged by this unity and patriotism you display. We are glad to see our elders sit together to discuss the future of Igbo land. This is like a relay race, where you run and later hand over the baton to the next person and the next generation. We are coming behind you so that whenever you hand us the baton, we collect it from you and continue with the race of progress and development,” he said.

Kalu however said that without unity, Ndi Igbo risk losing their direction and heritage.

“But if we are not in unity, we will miss our bearing and lose our heritage. But when we reason together in unity and harmony, we achieve greatness,” he said.

Speaking about Nigeria’s political structure, the Deputy Speaker noted that Igbo as one of the major tribes in Nigeria is not standing strong in the national politics.

He further argued that the political numbers of Ndi Igbo are not fully reflected across the five South East states because the people are scattered across the country.

To encourage active political participation, the Deputy Speaker urged a change of mindset, saying the post-war decision by many Igbo people to focus only on personal development and stay away from national politics had not served the region well.

“And it will not be good we shake and be left out in the scheme of things. Please, let’s come together. Let’s unite. When we unite, we gain more respect as a people. But when we work in isolation and silos, we lose our heritage.

“The number of votes of Ndi Igbo is not what we are getting across the five states because we are scattered around the country. If we take a position now and say, Igbo this is our agenda, this is what we want to do, I can assure you, the whole of Nigeria will feel our impact.

“But if we work in silos, every man to himself, to your tent O Israel, it is not encouraging at all. It yields no positive result. It reduces our number.

“After the war, we had believed we will work it out on our own and develop our place. We say we are not interested in politics. It is not our business. We have tried to develop on our own. It is about time we changed that mindset. The politics and governance of Nigeria should be our concern. We should get involved and play an active role because if we are not in the room, we can’t be part of the decision. We need to be part of the decision making process,” he said.

Kalu therefore called for a common position to help Ndi Igbo to deliver with one mind.

“There is no wisdom in saying we are not interested in the politics of Nigeria. It should be our business. Let us say one thing and stick to it with one mind, then, we will see the result of our togetherness. God bless you,” he said.

The stakeholders meeting held in Imo State Government House attracted the presence of Governor Hope Uzodinma as the chief host, some traditional rulers, representatives of religous leaders, women and youth groups from the five eastern States, other prominent Igbo sons and daughters in politics and governance, business, academia amongst whom are former Senate President/Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO); Prof. Nnenna Oti; former chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simeon Okeke; former President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu; Chief Tony Chukwu; Amb. Greg Mbadiwe; Prof. Osita Ogbu; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Amb. Okey Emuche.

By Isa Abdul

The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said there is no way a successful election can be conducted without the support of traditional institutions, especially in an era bedeviled by voter apathy and thuggery.

Professor Amupitan disclosed this in Lokoja on Thursday while addressing members of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs as part of his activities to assess preparations for the 2027 elections in the North-Central geopolitical zone.

He promised that the commission would strive to organise and supervise a visible, verifiable, credible, free, and fair election in line with its mandate under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Amupitan added that the commission has embarked on an assessment tour to evaluate logistics, infrastructure, and personnel across the six geopolitical zones.
to reduce administrative bottlenecks.

The working visit to Lokoja in the North-Central zone, which comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has marked the end of the evaluation tour.

He also urged the youth not to be used as instruments of violence during the election:

“I send an unequivocal message to our youth that no political aspiration is worth shedding human blood.”

The INEC chairman, further called on the royal fathers to assist in mobilising the electorate to collect their PVCs, prevail on the youth to shun thuggery and any form of violence, and support efforts to reduce misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after the election.

“The general elections will hold as scheduled in 2027. I have come to seek your support and partnership for us to discharge our mandate peacefully and effectively. INEC has no candidate; the commission is out to discharge its constitutional mandate fully,” Professor Amupitan told the traditional chiefs.

He said the commission under his watch had successfully conducted elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, including 16 by-elections within a year, stressing his resolve to re-enact that feat in the upcoming general election.

At the event, the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Shehu Wahab, said the gathering of traditional rulers and INEC was to foster a unity of purpose that would ensure a peaceful election in 2027.

He added that an interface with custodians of culture and tradition at this crucial period in the electioneering process is essential for a free and fair election.

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Tijani Mohammed Anaje, while speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, commended the INEC boss for his efforts to ensure a credible, free, and fair election in 2027.

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, who is the Vice Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, expressed their readiness to support Professor Amupitan in all aspects of the electoral process for a peaceful election.