Igbo Radio

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Southeast chapter of Team Obidient General Worldwide has been formally inaugurated, with the National Leader of the movement, Chief Ikenna Azomchine, declaring that the group's foremost mission is to mobilise massive grassroots support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, while also championing greater opportunities and development for the South-East.

The regional launch, which held over the weekend in Enugu, attracted a wide range of political stakeholders, youth leaders, student union executives, representatives of tertiary institutions across the five South-East states, members of various support groups and other stakeholders committed to the group's political and civic engagement agenda.

The event featured voter education, grassroots sensitisation, strategic engagement with students and youth leaders, induction of members and discussions on citizen participation in governance, as the movement formally commenced the expansion of its structures across the South-East geopolitical zone.

Addressing participants at the event, Hon. Azomchine explained that the inauguration of the regional structure marked another milestone in the nationwide expansion of Team Obidient General Worldwide, following the successful launch of the movement in Plateau State barely one week ago.

According to him, the South-East occupies a strategic place in the movement's vision, stressing that the group was determined to ensure that the region assumes its rightful place in national development through constructive engagement with government rather than remaining on the sidelines.

“We want to see the Southeastern Nigeria on top. We want our people to benefit from governance and be part of the process of building a better nation,” he declared.

Azomchine, a former loyalist and frontline supporter of Mr. Peter Obi in 2023, reiterated that his decision to support President Tinubu was borne out of what he described as the administration's ongoing infrastructural development and willingness to engage Nigerians.

He cited ongoing federal road projects linking the South-East and other parts of the country, describing them as factual and visible indicators of development that deserve continuity.

According to him, improved connectivity across the region would unlock greater economic opportunities, while expressing optimism that the South-East would witness even greater transformation in the coming years through sustained collaboration between the Federal Government and governors of the region.

His words: “Today, you can drive from Makurdi to Enugu in just three hours on a well paved road. Let's come to Onitsha, you have seen the road work going on from Enugu to Onitsha. The thickness is something you cannot imagine, and I can tell you that in the next one year, you can club in Enugu and sleep in Onitsha.

“The assurance I'm giving you is that with President Bola Tinubu, in the next three years, all the South East states would be sure that there will be interconnecting rail roads carrying us around the entire zone.

“With people like Soludo in Anambra, Mbah in Enugu, Otti in Abia, Uzodinma in Imo and Nwifuru in Ebonyi all keying into the vision of the president, we will have an entirely different South East zone in the next three years.”

He also urged citizens, particularly young people, to complement support for government with active civic engagement by demanding accountability from public office holders and institutions.

While referring to the South East Development Commission, Azomchine encouraged students and youths to monitor government programmes and ask legitimate questions on how public resources are being utilised for the benefit of the people.

"We should not just sit back and complain. We must ask questions, engage constructively and ensure that government institutions deliver on their mandates," he said.

As part of the movement's next phase, Azomchine announced plans to establish Team Obidient General Worldwide support groups in tertiary institutions across Enugu State and subsequently extend the initiative to campuses throughout the South-East.

He disclosed that the campus structures would serve as platforms for civic education, leadership development, voter mobilisation and constructive engagement between young people and government.

The National Leader further revealed that efforts were underway to facilitate the inauguration of the campus chapters by the President's son, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, during one of his future visits to Enugu State.

According to him, the movement would also work towards connecting qualified South-East youths with opportunities in federal agencies and institutions, while advocating increased participation of the region in national appointments and employment exercises.

He assured participants that the organisation would actively interface with relevant government institutions and commissions to ensure that deserving young people from the South-East are adequately informed about employment opportunities and encouraged to participate in federal recruitment exercises.

Azomchine also recounted how his interaction with Seyi Tinubu influenced his decision to embrace constructive engagement with the Federal Government, explaining that the meeting convinced him that the concerns of young Nigerians could receive attention through dialogue and collaboration.

He maintained that the movement was not founded to promote hostility or divisive politics but to encourage responsible citizenship, solution-driven engagement and peaceful political participation.

“We are not here to play dirty politics. We are here to build ourselves, build our region and build Nigeria. This support group is about empowering people and creating opportunities for tomorrow,” he said.

The event also featured goodwill messages from student leaders, including representatives of tertiary institutions across the South-East, as well as the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who pledged to continue encouraging constructive civic participation among students.

The student representatives emphasised the importance of patience, perseverance and active involvement in democratic processes, while urging young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to nation-building irrespective of political differences. They cited various developed nations of the world, which they said were not built in a day, noting that Nigeria can still be a great nation someday if the citizens commit to its development.

Participants also commended the initiative for creating a platform through which students and youths could engage leaders directly, advocate policies that benefit young people and contribute to discussions on national development.

With the successful inauguration of the South-East chapter, Team Obidient General Worldwide says it will immediately commence the establishment of functional support groups across tertiary institutions and communities within the five South-East states as part of its broader mobilisation strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure landslide re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.