Nigerian clergyman, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has criticised political and economic elites in the South-East, accusing them of failing to secure meaningful development and federal presence for the region.
Odumeje made the remarks in a recent video from his church that has circulated widely on social media.
The cleric expressed concern over what he described as the lack of major federal facilities in the South-East, particularly pointing to the absence of a foreign embassy in the region.
According to him, residents of the South-East who require visa services often have to travel to Lagos or Abuja, unlike people in some other parts of the country who have access to such services closer to home.
He argued that the principle of one Nigeria should be reflected in the equitable distribution of infrastructure and opportunities across the country.
Odumeje also questioned why the South-East, in his view, cannot point to major facilities such as a seaport and international embassy, while other regions have benefited from similar federal institutions.
Turning his attention to the Onitsha Head Bridge, the cleric accused the Federal Government of politicising its planned repairs because of the approaching 2027 elections.
“Federal Government has come to play politics with Onitsha Head Bridge,” he said, expressing concern that the repair could take longer than expected.
He further criticised South-East elites for what he described as excessive rhetoric without corresponding action to address the region’s challenges.
“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,” Odumeje said.
He maintained that if the Federal Government genuinely wants Nigerians to embrace national unity, development and access to key institutions should be distributed more equitably among the country’s major regions.
