The first president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief John Uche, has declared that the Igbo people possess both the numerical and political strength to win any free and fair election in Nigeria, insisting that what has held them back is political conspiracy and marginalisation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Chief Uche said that despite years of political exclusion, the Igbo have continued to contribute immensely to the country’s growth, especially in Lagos, where he claimed the tribe constitutes the majority of the population.
“If we are to go by numerical strength, I can tell you the Igbo people have what it takes to rule Nigeria,” he said. “In Lagos State, out of the 17.8 million population estimated in 2006, about 9.2 million were Igbo, with six million taxable adults. As at 2023, INEC’s record shows that out of 6.6 million registered voters in Lagos, the Igbo accounted for 4.8 million. So, if elections are free and fair, the Igbo will win anywhere.”
Chief Uche lamented that tribalism and religion remain major obstacles to national unity, stressing that the Igbo have always integrated peacefully in every part of Nigeria.
“We intermarry, we contribute to the economy, and we own businesses that sustain Lagos and beyond,” he said. “Our contribution to Lagos State’s economy is not less than 75 percent. Yet, when it suits them, they turn around to call us strangers.”
On the role of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche clarified that the socio-cultural body was never intended to be a political organisation but rather a rallying platform for unity and cultural preservation.
“Ohanaeze was formed in 1975 by Igbo leaders as a unifying group after the civil war. But when politics was introduced into the body, crisis started. Those who wanted politics went into it, while Ohanaeze remained the apex socio-cultural body,” he explained.
Tracing the origin of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Uche revealed that it was borne out of the desire to create a political platform that truly represents the Igbo ideology after years of political marginalization.
“After the humiliation of an Igbo candidate who won a local government election in Lagos during the SDP/NRC era, we decided to form our own political movement,” he recounted. “That was how the idea of a party that speaks for the Igbo — APGA — came about. Initially, we called it UPGA, but President Obasanjo refused to register it because it was proscribed in 1965. We later changed it to APGA.”
He acknowledged the efforts of former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, whom he credited for facilitating APGA’s eventual registration with INEC.
However, Uche expressed disappointment that APGA failed to expand beyond Anambra State due to what he described as internal leadership crises and lack of inclusiveness.
“When APGA was registered, it was supposed to protect the interest of the Igbo, but the elites refused to join. It became confined to Anambra alone,” he lamented. “We lost Imo State when Rochas Okorocha joined the APC, and that marked the beginning of APGA’s decline.”
Speaking on his move to the Labour Party (LP), Uche said it was driven by the need to align with a platform that values equity and the people’s welfare.
“I left APGA because of leadership tussles. The Labour Party offers an alternative. Many of us are now in LP because it reflects the ideals we have always fought for,” he said.
On the 2023 presidential election, the former Ohanaeze leader explained that his support for Peter Obi was not about personal loyalty but about what Obi represented for the Igbo nation.
“We didn’t support Obi because he is Igbo but because he symbolised justice and good governance. The cry of neglect and marginalisation pushed us to rally around him,” he stated.
Uche also commented on the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying that although it is still early, there are visible signs of imbalance and neglect of the South-East.
“The South-East has only five ministers, while the South-West has nine. Major infrastructure projects in the East are either abandoned or slow. From Enugu to Port Harcourt, the roads are terrible, and the Second Niger Bridge is still not completed,” he said.
Nevertheless, he advised Tinubu to listen to Nigerians and take steps to relieve their suffering.
“I won’t condemn him outright; he still has time to fix things. But people are crying. The economy is biting hard. He should open the borders to bring down food prices and ensure inclusivity in governance,” he advised.
Chief John Uche concluded by calling for a united Igbo front ahead of 2027, emphasising that only unity and strategic alliances can secure the region’s rightful place in national politics.
“The Igbo must work together and align with others. We are not asking for special treatment only fairness. In any truly free and fair election, the Igbo will win,” he insisted.
