Initiative for Igbo presidency asserts that South-East region requires greater political representation, rather than financial concessions.

The Igbo Presidency Project, or IPP, is advocating for a transition from handouts to authentic political inclusion in the South-East, while also criticizing the recent empowerment initiatives undertaken by the City Boys Movement in Owerri, Imo State, which descended into chaos as participants fought over items.

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This criticism comes in the wake of a statement signed by the National Coordinator of IPP, Chinedu Nsofor, who emphasized that the Igbo people's true desire is to have the opportunity to produce the next president of Nigeria, rather than relying on short-term empowerment giveaways.

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According to the IPP, the programme and its chaotic aftermath demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the socio-economic character of the South-East, a region historically renowned for its enterprise, trade, and private sector resilience.

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The statement highlighted that many families in the region rely on businesses and industry, rather than palliative handouts, underscoring the importance of meaningful investments in the community.

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The IPP questioned the logic behind distributing items intended to promote political campaigns, rather than investing in industries, infrastructure, and development projects that could create sustainable employment opportunities for young people.

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The organization described the images of people struggling over palliatives as a humiliating spectacle that should never have occurred in a region known for its productivity and entrepreneurship, labeling the exercise a waste of resources that failed to foster genuine engagement.

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The IPP stressed that the South-East desires equitable participation in national leadership and development, rather than token empowerment programmes, emphasizing the need for a more substantial and meaningful approach to addressing the region's needs.

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Ultimately, the IPP concluded that what the South-East seeks is justice, fairness, and the emergence of an Igbo president who understands the aspirations, enterprise culture, and economic vision of the region, as stated by Chinedu Nsofor, the National Coordinator of the organization.