From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

A statement signed by the group’s conveners, Secretary and Leader of the Women’s Wing, John CDO Ikeotuonye, Justin Ogoo Nwankwo and Vivian ChinyereNnajiofor, the group said that it would leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensure re-election of President Tinubu. According to him, doing so would be beneficial to Ndigbo.

It reads in part: “We must ignore the wave of coalitions going on in the country and keep our eyes fixed on the national political interplay where even the best of the North are realigning with the APC and Bola Ahmed Tinubu camp, while the retired and spent forces are wooing our people from the east into a strange alliance.

“The goal must be a larger and broad eastern integration than an individual drive to self-adulation. We must reaffirm our belief that it is time the South East, especially the young progressives amongst us rose and made our observations and convictions loud, clear and fully detached from emotions and sentiment.

“We must, therefore, as a matter of urgency, organize ourselves and make sound political calculations and avoid endless search for political relevance from outside of the table.

“The very fact that we have four different political parties in the 5 states of the South east speaks volumes of the urgency of our unification. We must unite now or never!

“The progressives are moving ahead of 2025 and the South east must move! No amount of coalition forces must distract this critical mandate of a united and unified support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for 2027.

“But it is not just about endorsements – it is about strategic alliance, positioning, legacy continuity, youth inclusion, and national cohesion. We are positioning ourselves to be, not just supporters, but also contributors to governance, through data-driven advocacy and positive engagement of the grassroots in the south east.

“We therefore invite stakeholders across public and private sectors in the South East to partner with us in spreading this grassroots renewed hope movement for immediate inclusion,” the group called.

The statement urged the Southeast to avoid being marginalized and endless drifting. The group chronicled some of President Tinubu’s achievements in the zone. These included the establishment of South East Development Commission, construction of strategic roads in the zone, support to South East governors, tax reform bills and education, among others.