Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, Founder of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Secretary of the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), and Deputy Secretary of the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), is a long-standing voice in Nigeria’s socio-political space, known for his advocacy for restructuring, equity, and regional development. In this interview, he offers a candid and wide-ranging assessment of the country’s deepening insecurity, governance challenges, and the shifting political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking frankly, Uko weighs the prospects of President Bola Tinubu, critiques both the ruling party and opposition coalition, and reiterates his call for true federalism as Nigeria’s only viable path forward. While maintaining a non-partisan stance, he identifies Chibuike Amaechi as the most qualified to lead the country among opposition figures, while also acknowledging the political weight of Atiku Abubakar.
Excerpts:
The insecurity in the land has risen to dangerously. What do you think makes it difficult for the authorities to contain this strange development?
My dear brother, this situation is truly deadly and difficult to process. The daredevil boldness of the insurgents in killing very senior military officers, combined with the brazen callousness of armed bandits, kidnappers, and murderous herdsmen, creates a cocktail that is both scary and ominous. Those who say this bloodletting is deliberately designed to bring President Tinubu’s administration down may not be entirely wrong. This is crazy and hard to analyse. Nigerians are now afraid to travel by road. The government has no reason or excuse to allow this to continue. This madness must stop now. Nigerians have never had it this bad. No excuse whatsoever is acceptable for allowing this to go on.
Could this truly be connected to the 2027 elections, a plot to discredit the administration and paint it as incompetent and unfit to govern the country?
I honestly don’t know for certain. This is worse than the 2014 harassment of Jonathan. It is horrific, embarrassing, and unacceptable. No sane Nigerian would want to risk travelling with their family from Abuja to Lagos by road. Friends and family would question your judgment. The current level of insecurity ravaging the land is unacceptable. To make matters worse, bandits display their victims and ransom demands online, as if mocking both the government and the citizens. Insurgents are even overrunning military camps. Something is terribly wrong somewhere.
Can President Tinubu survive this, with elections only eight months away?
I don’t know. I don’t get involved in partisan politics, elections, and all that. I leave that to others, especially those who refuse to join me in my decades-long advocacy for restructuring Nigeria back to true federalism and devolution of power.
I stay in my lane and allow politicians to do their thing. I don’t take sides. Whoever wins should kindly restructure Nigeria and devolve power to the federating units. They should also build long-denied infrastructure in my region: a global-standard seaport, a functional cargo wing at Akanu Ibiam Airport, railways, an industrial hub at 9th Mile Corner, and a dry port/container terminal in Aba. These are our demands, regardless of who wins.
It is up to Nigerians to decide who to vote for. Tinubu is bold and audacious, and his reforms are courageous and should be sustained. Atiku is also widely accepted across the zones, and his coalition promises to give Tinubu a strong contest. I wish both sides luck, but I refuse to be drawn into party politics.
The real problem with Nigeria is its unhelpful unitary structure and the prebendalism entrenched by the political class across the board. No individual politician has a magic wand to fix Nigeria under the 1999 military-imposed constitution. Devolution of power, true federalism, and bold, even painful reforms, there is no other way.
Do you think the painful reforms introduced by this administration are yielding positive results despite the hardship in the land?
Without these reforms, we would be heading towards a failed state. However, I’m not sure the government is doing enough to cushion the inevitable hardship or effectively block all leakages. Corruption can render any reform meaningless. The system must check abuses and sleaze of all kinds.
We were heading towards Armageddon, the country was almost gone. Sadly, our political class does not seem to care that we are perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, nor do they seem concerned that the unitary structure could sink this nation unless power is devolved to the federating units. They appear more focused on protecting their personal fortunes.
It takes time for the gains of reforms to become visible and impactful. Extreme care must be taken to plug every loophole of waste and abuse of office. We should also pray for our leaders not to fail—because when the country fails, everyone loses.
Would you give this Government passmark on job creation, security, growing the economy, checking corruption and managing our resources well?
I've not been impressed by any administration both Military and civilian in my 64 years. Every regime failed regular and obvious leadership tests such as prudent management of resources, justice and equity, security of lives and property, needed infrastructure, accountability, development goals and inspiring leadership. They all seem to be experimenting with governance and seem scared of doing the right things, they seem also more committed to protecting the elite club. I mean the political class, Government contractors and the the top elite club as opposed to tackling poverty and infrastructural development. This Government is no different. Yes, President Tinubu has activated bold reforms, yet a lot are still undone. But we should encourage them to remain focused and to do more.
The agitation in your region seems intractable. Any pathway for resolution and closure anytime soon?
There has always been a pathway to closure and resolution, but the people benefiting from the agitation won't let that happen. They are always discreetly fueling the agitation, because they use the energy and currency of the agitation to remain politically relevant. Some people remain in the Senate due to the goodwill of the agitators. Some are Governors because of the support they received from the agitators. These people don't want the agitation to end even though they pretend otherwise. The agitators themselves are unaware that they are only being used by these unscrupulous politicians. It's a catch 22 situation. The chicken and the egg. Who begat who.
The unitary structure encourages fear of the future, whilst the agitators thinks Nigeria will never be fair to their region. I'm actually tired of begging the authorities to sincerely address the root cause of the anger that inspired loss of faith in the country which in turn drives the agitation. Once the region is treated right, the agitation will fizzle out, because the agitators would no longer be able to recruit followers, because they will now have a sense of belonging once they see a global standard Seaport in Igboland, a functional Cargo wing at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, standard gauge Railways, Dry Port and container terminal, Export processing zone, Industrial hub etc. Nobody will crave cessation anymore. The Government knows why they are delaying carrying the region along. Once Nigeria is restructured along the lines of true federalism and devolution of power, the agitation will become history.
Will President Bola Tinubu survive the coalition seeking to dethrone him? They seem committed to removing him coming January 2027 elections eight months away.
It's clear the opposition is very serious about defeating him, but they are infested with some bigoted fellows amongst them, who out of greed and desperation for power, see themselves as messiahs and super human. Self-worship is sinful and ungodly. It's also dangerous.
Tinubu will survive due to the inability of the opposition to sustain the unity of the coalition.
As can be seen cracks and divisions amongst their ranks, suggests an impending split and of the course the ruling party would take advantage of confusion. Aside Chibuike Amechi and his supporters, who carry themselves well, the others in the coalition seem bigoted, desperate and self centered to the point that they find it difficult to work together. If they think either of them on their own can defeat Tinubu, then, they are badly mistaken. They insult each other in the social media. They insist it's their candidate "or nothing". It's difficult to believe they are in the same coalition with a common goal.
They are working towards destroying their coalition, each believing they alone will defeat Tinubu. They can't succeed with that attitude.
Who amongst them for you think can give Tinubu a good run for his money?
Atiku Abubakar stands tall for two reasons. One he has loads of experience and enjoys considerable goodwill all over the country. And the unique political culture of his region. I mean the ability of the elite, the political class in association with the traditional and religious leaders, to give direction and the masses will follow. This strategy helps them influence vote pattern on a very large scale. The North West and the North East can greatly influence elections, once majority of the political elite, traditional rulers and elders and religious leaders come together and zero in on a particular political direction. They use that strategy well.
But the other side and their messiah from my region, merely hope to replicate the miraculous impact of last elections, not factoring in the reality that circumstances have changed and the variables of last elections do not play out in their favour now. Last time, they transferred the hate they had for the then sitting President who mistreated their region, to his party and sought for an alternative and the messiah benefitted. The former President degraded and mistreated my region, he called them dot in a circle and five percenters. So the entire region rose in unison as one force in search of an alternative. The situation has changed now.
This time all the Governors and political leaders in the zone are now working for the ruling party. No messiah can sweep the region like last time. On the other hand, the coalition has decent candidates too.
Chibuike Amechi stands out as the urbane respectful candidate of the opposition coalition, whose supporters do not descend on or insult other candidates and aspirants. He is a quiet achiever who was runner up at the ruling party's primary that produced the current President.
Then and now, he addreses issues affecting the country without insulting anybody. He lays down his plans politely and respectfully. He is young and energetic. He has quality experience as two-term Speaker, two-term Governor and two-term Minister. He enjoys nationwide support, even in the North. He is not an ethnic irredentist, doesn't see the elections as "religious war". He is a decent man who will transform Nigeria if given the opportunity. Moreover he's not a desperado. All the other hustlers are desperados. If they rally around him, they may make a difference. I usually do not get involved in partisan politics. I want to see elections that represent the genuine will of the people. This is why I implore INEC to ensure real time uploading of results. I wish all the politicians contesting, luck.
Finally, do you see a free and fair elections come January 2027?
Why not? We should grow confidence in our electoral process. We should encourage participation in the electoral process by ensuring a transparent process. If we don't don't do that, we'll be making it difficult for the electorate to trust the electoral system. That breeds voter apathy. That won't do us any good as a people.
Leave a Reply