The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed dissatisfaction over the alarming rate of corruption, mismanagement and disregard for the Supreme Court verdict on local government autonomy by some southeast governors.
In a press statement by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a thorough and unbiased review was conducted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the performance of all public office holders from the Southeast region in 2024.
According to him, Senator Dave Umahi emerged as the 2024 “Igbo Man of the Year”.
The statement reads in part, “For the first time in 55 years since the Biafra Civil War concluded, a Nigerian President has proactively engaged with the interests of the Igbo people, particularly through substantial infrastructure development initiatives championed across the Southeast.
“In a thorough and unbiased review conducted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the performance of all public office holders from the Southeast region in 2024 has been meticulously assessed.
“This assessment utilised our established “Igbo Performance Perimeters and Indexes”, a model created to explicitly measure the effectiveness and accountability of Igbo leaders.
“This annual evaluation scrutinises the commitments and results achieved by Igbo Governors, Ministers, National Assembly members, and local government officials, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their contributions to our community.
“Our findings highlight that while many Igbo leaders showed promise and dedication, there remains a stark need for effective mechanisms to evaluate and improve the accountability of these public servants. Many have failed to exercise their responsibilities in a manner that maximises the benefits for our community.
“Upon concluding our assessments in 2024, it is crucial to note that some Igbo Governors exhibited alarming levels of executive excess and fiscal irresponsibility.
“Reports of corruption, mismanagement, and a blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s verdict on local government autonomy have emerged, particularly among certain governors, which tarnished their chances to receive commendation.
“In contrast, we recognise the commendable efforts of Senator Dave Umahi, who emerges as the 2024 Igbo Man of the Year. His leadership as Minister of Works has yielded outstanding results in infrastructure development across the Southeast”, he said.
