By Passman Akpos
Nigerian social commentator and medical doctor, Dr. Charles Apoki, has stirred a national conversation after asserting that “the Igbo man does not need to be President of Nigeria before he will do well.” Speaking in a reflective video titled “Why I Said the Igbos Don’t Need the Presidency to Excel or Develop Their Land,” Apoki drew from his experience in social sciences to challenge the popular belief that political power is the key to regional progress.
“In my master’s class in the social sciences — I went to the social sciences at 57 even as a medical doctor — the lecturer said that only 1 to 2% of people generate original ideas,” Apoki began. “The remaining 95% of humanity don’t think — they just follow people and live by perceptions, not logic.”
Apoki argued that development depends more on visionary local leadership than on having a president from a particular ethnic group. He cited examples from Nigeria’s history to support his position.
> “President Goodluck Jonathan is from Bayelsa State. Throughout his tenure, there was no good road to his community.Go to Niger State, where Babangida comes from — there’s banditry and poverty.Go to the North, where Buhari comes from — still dusty, unsafe, and underdeveloped,” he said.
According to Dr. Apoki, real progress begins at the subnational level, through effective governors, local government chairpersons, and traditional rulers who can create environments where citizens thrive.
> “If their governors can do well and build their area, the Igbos don’t even need Biafra,” he insisted. “It is intrinsically in them to do well. The Igbos have excelled everywhere — in business, education, politics, and innovation. They don’t need to be president to succeed.”
Apoki further praised the infrastructural development and entrepreneurial spirit evident in the Southeast, noting that “there is no part of Nigeria that has buildings like the eastern part. Look at Onitsha, Aba, Enugu, Abakaliki — you will see beautiful buildings even in their villages.”
The remarks, however, ignited mixed reactions across social media, drawing both praise and criticism.
One commenter, @NigerianSpeak, supported Apoki’s position, saying:
> “Thank you my brother, you are making a serious point. You don’t expect everyone to understand you. If our leaders can create an enabling environment and policies that can make business thrive, we will not have any cause to cry for marginalization and poverty.”
Others disagreed, insisting that political sovereignty remains central to the Igbo identity and freedom.
A user, @IgboVoice, countered:
> “Please sir, Igbos need Biafra Nation for self-respect and value. When the nations in Nigeria were under British colony, they still needed freedom for a reason. Biafra Nation remains the only thing that can give the Igbo man security, value system, and traditional education based on Igbo cosmology.”
But another commenter, @IbetoJohn, pushed back:
> “Trust me when I say you don’t need Biafra. Dr. Alex Otti has proven that. Igbo political leaders are complicit in what is going on with the Igbos. They will hijack Biafra if it happens. They will copy the divide and rule tactics of the average Nigerian politician.”
Meanwhile, @TobiGbeja defended the pro-Biafra perspective, writing.
> “We need Biafra, sir. If you really understand what excellence in governance means, you will appreciate the need for Biafra. Otti is doing well, but what we see is just okay for the African mindset. There’s a realm we can never get to without sovereignty.”
The discussion underscores the enduring tension between ethnic identity, political power, and development in Nigeria. While Apoki’s argument promotes competence over ethnicity, many Nigerians remain convinced that self-determination is the only path to true progress.
Still, Apoki stands by his conviction that excellence transcends politics.
> “If somebody from my tribe is contesting against an Igbo man — say, Peter Obi — and Peter Obi is better, I will vote Peter Obi,” he declared. “We should look for who can bring development, sanity, competence, and capacity into the country.”
As debates continue online and offline, one thing is certain: Dr. Apoki’s remarks have reignited national reflection on what truly drives progress — tribe or good governance.
