According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has condemned the absence of South-East governors and members of the National Assembly from the region at the 60th memorial anniversary held in honour of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, Major-General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi.
The memorial ceremony took place in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday, with Governor Alex Otti attending the event. However, the youth organisation said it was disappointed that other governors from the South-East failed to be physically present to honour the late military leader.
In a statement issued in Umuahia, the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, described the absence of the political leaders as unfortunate, stressing that the event was significant to the history of the Igbo people and Nigeria as a whole.
“It is disheartening to note that Southeast Governors, namely Gov. Hope Uzodimma, Gov. Francis Nwifuru, Gov. Peter Mbah, and Gov. Charles Soludo, failed to attend the memorial anniversary of the first Nigerian indigenous Major General and first Nigerian indigenous military commander of Igbo extraction.
“If the late Maj. Gen. JTU Aguiyi Ironsi belonged to the Yoruba, Hausa or Fulani ethnic groups, the situation would likely be different, and it is unlikely that governors from Yoruba, Hausa or Fulani land would be absent from such a significant historical event.”
The OYC president argued that the absence of both the governors and federal lawmakers from the South-East reflected a lack of collective commitment among the region’s political leadership. He called on them to give greater attention to activities that promote the unity, identity and shared history of Ndigbo.
Igboayaka also criticised what he described as a recurring pattern of political leaders staying away from important Igbo-related events, including the Biafra heroes and heroines memorial, the Aguiyi-Ironsi remembrance and the annual Igbo carnival, urging them to demonstrate stronger leadership by participating in programmes that foster regional unity.