Okorocha: Hatred for Buhari in South-East Far Greater Than Tinubu’s, Says President Has Wronged No Igbo

Former Imo State Governor and former Senator, Rochas Okorocha, has stirred political debate in the South-East after declaring that the resentment against the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in Imo State and the wider region was far greater than the opposition President Bola Tinubu currently faces.

Okorocha, who expressed confidence that Tinubu could secure victory in Imo State in the 2027 presidential election, insisted that the Nigerian leader had done nothing personally to warrant the hostility directed at him by sections of the Igbo population.

The former governor argued that the political discontent often associated with Tinubu in the South-East was being misunderstood, maintaining that much of the anger was actually a spillover of dissatisfaction with the administration of Buhari and, in some instances, protests against sitting political leaders in the region.

He made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today, where he discussed the political situation in Imo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu's standing among Igbo voters and the emerging calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Okorocha, the APC's most difficult political experience in Imo State during its years in power at the federal level was largely associated with Buhari's presidency rather than Tinubu's political leadership.

"You must understand that when we are talking about APC in Imo State, the time we had issues as APC was when Buhari was in government," he said.

He went further to argue that the level of hostility directed at Buhari in the South-East should not be confused with the political sentiments currently surrounding Tinubu.

"In fact, the hate for Buhari can't be compared to the imagery hate for Tinubu in Imo State or in the whole South-East," Okorocha stated.

His comments appear to challenge the perception that Tinubu's political acceptance in the region has been significantly weakened by the prevailing opposition to the APC and its leadership.

Okorocha Dismisses Anti-Tinubu Sentiment

The former governor maintained that political observers and party leaders must distinguish between genuine opposition to the President and dissatisfaction arising from other political grievances.

He suggested that some of the protests and negative political reactions attributed to Tinubu were, in reality, expressions of frustration directed at state governors and other political actors.

According to him, it would be misleading to interpret every demonstration of political anger in the South-East as a rejection of the President.

"People must be careful not to mistake a transferred hate or transferred protest for what they don't want as a governor to mean that it's a protest against Tinubu," he said.

Okorocha's argument introduces another dimension to the political debate over the APC's fortunes in the South-East, where the party has continued to contend with historical grievances, political rivalries and a strong opposition presence.

The region has traditionally presented a difficult electoral environment for the APC, particularly since the 2015 general election, when Buhari emerged as President.

Although the party has made efforts to strengthen its political structures and expand its influence in the region, its electoral performance has often reflected the complicated relationship between federal politics and regional political sentiments.

For Okorocha, however, the political situation should not be reduced to a blanket rejection of Tinubu.

He insisted that the President had maintained cordial relationships with people of Igbo extraction over the years, particularly during his political activities in Lagos.

"Tinubu has done no wrong to any Igbo man. His best friends in Lagos are Igbos," he declared.

The former governor's remarks suggest that he believes personal relationships, political alliances and renewed engagement could help improve the President's acceptance among voters in the South-East.

2027: Okorocha Predicts Tinubu's Victory In Imo

Beyond defending Tinubu's relationship with the Igbo, Okorocha expressed strong confidence that the President would perform better in Imo State during the 2027 presidential election.

He specifically linked his optimism to his own political emergence, suggesting that his renewed political relevance and involvement in the unfolding political contest would strengthen the APC's prospects.

"Let me tell you that, with my emergence now with this ticket, Tinubu will win in Imo State," he declared.

The statement is significant against the background of the political contest in Imo State, where the APC has remained embroiled in internal disagreements and competing claims to political leadership.

Okorocha, who governed Imo State between 2011 and 2019, has had a prolonged political disagreement with his successor, Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The disagreement has repeatedly exposed divisions within the APC in the state, with both political camps seeking to establish their influence over the party's structures and electoral direction.

The former governor's latest prediction therefore appears to be as much a statement of confidence in Tinubu's electoral prospects as it is an assertion of his own political influence in Imo State.

His claim also raises questions about how the APC intends to reconcile its internal divisions and mobilise different political interests behind the President ahead of the next general election.

While Okorocha believes his political return could strengthen Tinubu's chances, the actual outcome will depend on the party's ability to consolidate its structures, win public confidence and address the concerns of voters.

Okorocha Challenges Uzodimma Over Legal Dispute

The former governor also used the television appearance to take another swipe at Governor Uzodimma, challenging him to pursue an appeal over the legal controversy surrounding their political interests.

Okorocha insisted that the facts of the matter had become sufficiently clear and accused his political opponents of attempting to manipulate the legal process.

"I challenge Uzodimma to go to appeal, when the facts have spoken you can't manipulate the law," he said.

His remarks underscore the continuing tension between the two prominent APC figures, whose rivalry has become one of the defining features of the party's internal politics in Imo State.

The latest confrontation comes amid the wider struggle for political relevance and influence ahead of the 2027 elections.

For Okorocha, the legal disagreement is inseparable from the question of who commands political authority within the APC in Imo State and who should determine the party's future direction.

The former governor has continued to project himself as a major political force in the state, while Uzodimma remains the sitting governor and a central figure in the APC's political structure.

Their differences present a challenge for a party that must demonstrate unity if it hopes to maximise its electoral strength in the state.

The South-East Question And Tinubu's 2027 Ambition

Okorocha's intervention comes at a time when the South-East is emerging as an important battleground in the political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

For Tinubu and the APC, expanding the party's electoral appeal beyond its traditional strongholds will require more than political endorsements and high-profile declarations.

The region's relationship with successive federal administrations has been shaped by questions of political inclusion, infrastructure, security, economic opportunities and the perceived distribution of national resources.

Consequently, the President's acceptance among Igbo voters cannot be determined solely by the personal relationships he maintained with individuals of South-East origin in Lagos or elsewhere.

Political loyalty and electoral decisions are often influenced by broader considerations, including the performance of government, the economic circumstances of citizens and the extent to which different communities feel represented in national affairs.

The APC will therefore have to contend with the difficult task of translating political alliances into genuine grassroots support.

Okorocha's assertion that the hostility towards Buhari was greater than the resentment directed at Tinubu may also invite debate among political stakeholders in the region, particularly those who believe the President must be judged by his administration's policies and performance rather than his personal relationships.

Nevertheless, his confidence in Tinubu's electoral prospects reflects the determination of some APC leaders to reposition the party in the South-East before the next general election.

Whether Okorocha's political influence and renewed involvement can deliver the electoral breakthrough he has predicted remains to be seen.

Ultimately, the 2027 contest will provide a more definitive test of the President's popularity in Imo State and the wider South-East, where voters will have the final say on whether the APC has succeeded in overcoming its longstanding political challenges.