A recent column has criticised the actions of some high-profile Igbo socialites involved in Seyi Tinubu’s City Boy Movement, which has recently expanded into the South-East.

Figures such as Obi Cubana that the City Boy representatives were carefully selected to work with President Bola Tinubu and argued that it is unrealistic to expect business figures to decline opportunities to engage with the president. The writer compared the situation to global norms, suggesting even leading industrialists would accept invitations from heads of state abroad.

However, the author argued that some City Boy promoters in the South-East have shown political naivety. Public statements and conduct, including remarks made to Governor Peter Mbah, were criticised as condescending to the Igbo people. Comments that framed the Igbo as politically inexperienced or alluding to historical “defeat” were described as insulting and tone-deaf.

The column defended the Igbo nation, emphasising its resilience, economic contributions, and political sacrifices since the civil war. It highlighted the South-East’s role in Nigeria’s development, the historical marginalisation of the Igbo in political leadership, and the strategic need for the region to maintain dignity and assert its interests.

The author cautioned the public against being swayed by “political adventurers” brought from outside the region, arguing that such movements serve external interests rather than those of the Igbo people. The column concluded that individuals disrespecting the Igbo’s legacy should remain in the spaces from which they originated, rather than attempting to claim influence over the South-East’s political future.

The piece also reiterated support for Governor Alex Otti, noting that personal political preferences do not diminish respect for the region’s autonomy or for its citizens’ right to determine their political direction in 2026.