Engage non-violent Biafra agitators or risk southeast backlash in 2027, Ohanaeze warns Tinubu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has urged President Bola Tinubu to open dialogue with non-violent pro-Biafra leaders, warning that continued neglect could cost him political support in the southeast during the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Monday to mark Tinubu’s second year in office, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group said the president risks missing a historic opportunity to resolve the long-standing Biafra question peacefully.

The statement was signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, deputy president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Chief Thompson Ohia, national spokesman.

The group said: “Ohanaeze believes this is the closest Nigeria has come in 55 years to resolving the Biafra conflict.

“It is a moment that should not be lost to silence, evasion, or political calculation.”

The group criticised the federal government’s refusal to engage in talks with the non-violent agitators, describing it as “one of its gravest strategic errors”.

“If Tinubu had shown statesmanship by addressing the genuine grievances of the southeast, he would be celebrated today as a bridge-builder and unifier,” the statement read.

Ohanaeze emphasised that the non-violent pro-Biafra groups are not banned or proscribed, and have maintained their advocacy without resorting to violence or inciting unrest.

It said: “These leaders have been consistent voices against systemic injustice and inhumane conditions in the southeast for over two decades.

“The way forward is dialogue — not suppression. That is what every previous government has failed to do.”

The group said southeast governors cannot guarantee electoral support for Tinubu, warning that their influence has significantly declined.

It said: “Relying on defections or endorsements by governors will be a strategic misstep.

“These are often driven by self-preservation, not genuine loyalty. We’ve seen where that path led President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.”

Ohanaeze said the 2027 election will reflect the people’s frustrations with hunger and poverty, and the southeast could be “held captive” by opposition coalitions if Tinubu fails to engage constructively.

“The dominant voice in the southeast today is not the governors — it is the non-violent pro-Biafra agitators who can mobilise opinion across all 774 LGAs,” it said.

The group added that southeast politicians are reluctant to speak candidly on the matter but maintained that non-violent leaders remain open to constructive engagement.

“They have extended a handshake of reconciliation to the president. It is time to reciprocate that gesture with political courage. Let this not be another missed opportunity. The time for dialogue is now,” it said.