At over 70, I once imagined there are few surprises left—especially in the theatre of Nigerian politics. I was wrong. The capacity of our elite for self-serving reinvention continues to astonish.
The recent emergence of the so-called “Association of Past Governors of the South East” is a case in point. On the surface, it presents itself as a gathering of elder statesmen—men who have borne the burden of leadership and now seek to guide their region with the wisdom of experience. But a closer look reveals something far less noble: a coalition that appears less concerned with regional advancement and more invested in serving as a political shield for a faltering presidency.
That this “elders’ wing” of what many now derisively call the City Boys movement is led by Dave Umahi speaks volumes. Under his watch as chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, the region witnessed the collapse of the Ebube Agu security initiative and a troubling escalation in insecurity.
For many, that period symbolized not just policy failure, but a profound abdication of responsibility. It is therefore difficult to see this new formation as a vehicle for redemption; rather, it feels like an extension of the same troubling pattern.
Indeed, the irony is as heavy as it is inescapable. Several members of this association carry the lingering baggage of EFCC investigations and unresolved allegations of financial impropriety. Their sudden enthusiasm to rally behind the current administration looks less like a principled endorsement and more like a calculated bid for political cover. In that context, their public declarations of support are not only unconvincing—they are insulting to a populace already burdened by inflation, insecurity, and systemic neglect.
The South East today stands at a critical juncture. Its people contend daily with economic hardship, deteriorating infrastructure, and a security architecture that often feels more extractive than protective. In such a moment, what is required is not sycophancy, but courage; not blind allegiance, but strategic engagement.
If these former governors truly embody the statesmanship they now claim, their support for the federal government should not come as a blank cheque. It should be conditional, deliberate, and anchored in measurable gains for the region. They should be leveraging their collective influence to demand a fundamental recalibration of federal priorities toward the South East.
For instance, a binding, time-bound commitment to the completion of a modern Eastern Rail Corridor is long overdue. Such a project—linking Aba, Onitsha, Abakaliki, Enugu, and Owerri to the national standard-gauge network—would not merely be an infrastructure upgrade; it would be an economic lifeline, unlocking trade, mobility, and regional integration.
Equally critical is the need to rethink the region’s maritime potential. The dredging of Oguta Lake and the full development of the Onitsha River Port could transform the South East into a viable commercial hub, easing the over-concentration on Lagos ports and bringing much-needed federal presence to the region.
On security, platitudes will no longer suffice. The past eight years have seen a troubling proliferation of checkpoints manned by various security agencies, creating an environment where citizens often feel harassed rather than protected. Estimates suggest that trillions of naira have been extracted from ordinary people through these informal tolls. Any serious intervention must go beyond militarization to address the political and socio-economic roots of unrest in the region.
These are the issues that should define the agenda of any group claiming to represent the interests of the South East—especially one composed of men who once held the highest offices in their states.
To do otherwise—to offer unqualified support without securing tangible benefits for their people—is not elder statesmanship. It is abdication. It is a betrayal dressed in regal isi agu attire.
History will not be kind to those who mistake proximity to power for purpose. Nor will the people forget those who, having once held the reins of leadership, chose instead to become cheerleaders for a status quo that continues to fail them.
About the Author:
Dr. Osuji writes from Owerri
