Until the structural problems in Nigeria are addressed, the dream of an Igbo presidency will remain far away- Bar Ifeanyi Ejiofor
Ifeanyi C. Ejiofor, a well-known lawyer and human rights defender, has spoken strongly about the continued political and structural challenges faced by the Igbo people in Nigeria.
He said that the dream of an Igbo person becoming president is almost impossible, comparing it to “an elephant trying to pass through the eye of a needle.”
In his interview with The Sun, Ejiofor explained that the Igbo have been systematically excluded from national leadership positions for decades.
According to him, this exclusion has left many Igbo people frustrated and feeling alienated from the system.
“The pattern of exclusion is clear, National leadership roles are set up in a way that sidelines the South-East, and that has created anger and hopelessness among our people.”
He said the Nigerian Civil War may have officially ended in 1970, but its effects are still shaping politics, governance, and power distribution till today. He stressed that the war created deep mistrust and that the consequences are still visible in how the Igbo are treated politically.
He said this unfairness continues to affect unity in the country because a large part of the population feels ignored in governance.
He noted that since independence in 1960, the presidency has only gone between the North and the South-West, leaving the South-East without fair representation.
Ejiofor also traced these problems back to policies introduced after the war, which reduced Igbo political influence and limited their role in national decision-making.
He said such policies still reflect in today’s governance, in how positions are shared, how resources are allocated, and how alliances are formed. According to him, Until the structural problems are addressed, the dream of an Igbo presidency will remain far away.
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