FromStanley Uzoaru, Owerri

TheImo State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opiah, has warned Ndigbo against politicians promising to serve only one term of four years as president, describing such claims as deceptive, selfish, and inimical to the collective interest of the South East.

Opiah, who spoke at the inauguration of the Ward Coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Ikeduru Local Government Area chapter, held at the council hall in Iho, noted that lessons of the 2023 general election remain fresh and instructive for the Igbo nation.

He added that many people in the South East were misled by assurances that an Igbo candidate would emerge president, a development he said weakened support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the zone, even though the party eventually won the election against all odds.

“As we approach the 2027 presidential election, the same narrative is being recycled,” Opiah said. “Some politicians are going around promising that if elected president, they will serve only one term of four years. That is not the position of the Igbo people. We cannot continue to contest every election cycle, lose, and then turn around to blame others. The truth is that 2027 is not our turn. When it is our turn, we will take it properly and produce a president for eight years.”

He stressed that no region in Nigeria should aspire to the presidency only to hand over power after four years, insisting that equity, fairness, and political strategy demand full tenure when the opportunity eventually comes. He urged the people of the South East to resist emotional appeals and to align with political realities that would place the region in a stronger negotiating position nationally.

Opiah further said that some of the individuals championing a change of presidency narrative are the same actors who mismanaged Nigeria in the past, and are now desperate to return to power through misinformation. He cautioned Ndigbo against falling for what he described as “rebranded deception.”

Addressing controversies surrounding the ongoing tax reforms of the Federal Government, Opiah dismissed claims that the reforms are designed to punish ordinary Nigerians. He said the reforms are targeted at strengthening the economy and ensuring fairness in revenue generation.

He explained that the new tax regime seeks to make the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, while providing the government with the funds required to invest in critical infrastructure and social services. He listed the benefits of the reforms to include increased revenue for development, reduced reliance on borrowing, improved funding for education and healthcare, and overall economic stability through a broader and more efficient tax base.

On the Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative, Opiah emphasised that the Ward Coordinators’ positions are not party offices but grassroots responsibilities aimed at civic education and national reorientation. He noted that although members of the group are loyal APC supporters, their core mandate is to educate the people, mobilise support for government policies, and counter misinformation.