News, Politics

Mbah Calls for Strategic Politics as South East Seeks Stronger Voice in National Affairs

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 11th, 2026.

Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has called on people of the South East to adopt a more strategic approach to politics in order to regain influence in national decision-making, lamenting that the region has become politically fragmented and increasingly disconnected from the centre in recent years.

Mbah made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving the leadership and members of the City Boy Movement, a group supporting the re-election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Government House in Enugu.

The governor said the political tradition of Ndigbo had always been rooted in pragmatism and strategic alliances rather than sentiment-driven politics. According to him, earlier generations of Igbo leaders understood the importance of building relationships across regions to ensure that the interests of their people were represented in national affairs.

He expressed concern that the South East has recently found itself on the margins of national politics and no longer occupies key positions within the country’s political power structure. Mbah noted that historically, Igbo leaders were always present where important decisions about the country were taken, adding that the region must work towards reclaiming that influence.

The governor said the South East had never been as politically divided as it has been in recent years, but expressed optimism that leaders in the region were beginning to close ranks and chart a common path forward.

Mbah also commended the economic policies introduced by President Tinubu, stating that although the reforms initially brought economic difficulties, they have helped ease macroeconomic pressures and address uncertainties that had discouraged foreign investors, particularly in the foreign exchange market.

He said Nigerians would likely support the president’s re-election bid as the benefits of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda gradually begin to reach more citizens. According to him, the South East must carefully assess the political landscape and align itself strategically to avoid being sidelined in national politics.

Earlier, the South East Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, said the region had lost political ground in the past because of what he described as isolationist politics.

Iyiegbu, a businessman, noted that despite the historic role of Ndigbo as one of the pillars of Nigeria’s development, other regions have increasingly won presidential elections without the support of the South East due to the type of politics played by the region in recent years.

He said young professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the region had decided to openly support President Tinubu and his re-election, stressing that the South East must reconnect with the centre of power to secure economic opportunities and national development projects.

According to him, the region must build alliances with other parts of the country if it hopes to produce a president of Igbo extraction in the future, noting that such an ambition would require the support of other geopolitical zones.

Also speaking at the event were the State Director of the movement, Emeka Mammah, and the State Patron, Charles Mbah, who both commended Governor Mbah for what they described as the significant development and transformation taking place in Enugu State under his administration.

They pledged the movement’s commitment to mobilizing support that would ensure strong electoral victories for both President Tinubu and Governor Mbah in future political contests.