By CHARLES IWUOHA

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that President Bola Tinubu may face an uphill battle in the 2027 elections, if he continues to disregard the pressing issues of extreme poverty, hardship, and escalating threat of insecurity in the country.

Ohanaeze said the immediate and effective solutions must be proffered to address the essential needs of the Nigerian populace.

The pan Igbo group stated that it is imperative to inform President Tinubu that the citizenry is not only overwhelmed by their circumstances but is also at a precipice, risking a revolt against the current administration through the ballot box come 2027.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze urged the All Progressives Congress-led federal government to confront the stark realities which it said have reached intolerable levels.

According to the group, the detrimental impacts of these crises will hinder the ability of all 36 State Governors to secure reelection for President Tinubu.

The statement reads: “Many of these Governors are peddling falsehoods and illusions of support, operating under the delusion that they can deliver their states for the APC in the upcoming elections—a perilous naiveté.

"However, it is the astute Northern Governors who may present a more duplicitous challenge. They are adeptly playing a game that could ultimately undercut President Tinubu's ambitions, and it is this faction that he must address most urgently.”

Ohanaeze urged President Tinubu to seize this rare historical opportunity to restore faith in his administration before it is irrevocably lost, adding that revolutionary policies are needed to win back the trust of Nigerians.

"A moment of stark clarity is necessary: the current alignment with these Governors, who perpetuate the country's economic and security tribulations, must be reconsidered.

"We further assert that the anticipated benefits from the removal of the fuel subsidy—resulting in significantly increased federal allocations to the states—have yet to reach the citizenry.

"Additionally, the Supreme Court’s decision advocating for local government autonomy is being undermined by those very Governors, preventing much-needed relief for Nigerians.

"The introduction of new tax reforms will meet similar sabotage unless there is a profound change in leadership and policy direction.

"President Tinubu must prioritize the eradication of hunger, poverty, and insecurity if he harbors any hope of campaigning effectively for reelection in 2027. The false narratives being spun by the 36 State Governors mask the reality of the ongoing crisis that the populace faces.

"Nigerians are grappling with soaring costs of living, with prices of essential goods and services becoming increasingly untenable.

"These issues represent formidable obstacles to any campaign aimed at securing a second term.

"Furthermore, we must candidly inform President Tinubu that Northern Governors may very well abandon him during the 2027 elections, siding instead with their constituents who feel aggrieved by his administration.

"Southern Governors will similarly be divided, teetering between the newfound alliances with traditional rivals and leveraging President Tinubu's influence for their political survival.

"Consequently, it will be an unyielding challenge for these Governors to rally support for President Tinubu in their respective states. The time has come for decisive action: lowering electricity tariffs, reconstituting economic teams, eliminating waste, and investing robustly in agriculture and infrastructure.

"The President would do well to emulate young leaders like Captain Traore of Burkina Faso who empower their youth with resources and incentives for agricultural advancement and food security.

"Let it be said without fear or favor that the current trajectory is unsustainable. Immediate attention must be given to these crises; the failure to act will render political aspirations moot.