Nigerian clergyman, Odumeje, has slammed the elites of the South-East, accusing them of “making noise” without making any meaningful impact in the region.
In a video making the rounds on social media, Odumeje, who was speaking in his church recently, said that while other regions like the North and South have embassies where residents can go for visa appointments, the South-East has none, making people from the region travel to either Lagos or Abuja for visa appointments.
He argued that the call for one Nigeria must be seen to be fair and just in all its entirety.
He said that while other regions can boast of seaports and embassies, the South-East region cannot boast of any of such.
Odumeje also criticised the Federal Government over its recent move to block the Onitsha Head Bridge for repairs.
He said the decision to repair the bridge when elections were approaching was politically motivated and questioned the amount budgeted for the project.
Odumeje said the Federal Government had come to play politics with the Onitsha Head Bridge by deciding to repair it as the election drew closer.
He added that if Nigerians knew how much had been budgeted for the repairs, they would be shocked, expressing concern that the bridge might take too long to reopen.
The cleric also criticised Igboland elites, accusing them of making noise while failing to address the region’s challenges.
He described it as shameful that the South-East had no embassy in 2026, noting that residents who need visas have to travel to Abuja or Lagos.
Odumeje said the idea of one Nigeria should be based on fairness, arguing that every major tribe should have at least one seaport and one international embassy.
He maintained that the South-East had neither, accusing the region’s elites of deceiving themselves.
Odumeje said, “Federal Government has come to play politics with Onitsha Head Bridge. That is why, now that the election is close, they have come to repair it. If you hear how much they budgeted for that, you will be shocked. Before you know it, it will take too long to reopen.
“All the elites in Igbo land are busy making noise. It’s so shameful that in 2026, there is no embassy in the South-East. Before anyone can get a visa, he or she must travel to Abuja or Lagos.
“When we talk about one Nigeria, every major tribe should have at least one seaport and one international embassy. But in the South-East, there is nothing. Our elites keep deceiving themselves.”