AWKA – In a move that has sent shockwaves through the heart of Igboland, the political landscape of Anambra State was set ablaze on Saturday as the City Boy Movement (CBM) officially planted its flag in the state. Amidst high-octane fanfare and the glitz of political heavyweights, the movement inaugurated its State Executive, Patrons, and Local Government Coordinators—but the celebration is being met with a wall of furious resistance.
Leading the charge was the Southeast Zonal Coordinator and billionaire mogul, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana). Stepping into the political ring with his signature flair, Cubana characterized the movement as a vital “bridge” to reconnect the Southeast with the national center. He preached a message of unity and inclusion, urging the region to stop sitting on the sidelines of power.
“The Bitter Aftertaste”
However, while the champagne popped in the halls of the inauguration, the streets and the digital trenches were overflowing with venom. For many Southeasterners, the “City Boy” brand is a bitter pill they refuse to swallow.
Critics and regional loyalists have wasted no time in branding the movement’s promoters as “mercenaries” and “betrayers” of the Igbo cause. The core of the anger? The movement’s unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a man many in the region label the “jailer” of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“A Knife to the Heart of the Tribe”
“How can they dance for a government that keeps our brother behind bars?” one local activist fumed. “This isn’t a bridge; it’s a sell-out. Supporting this administration is an insult to the struggles of the Southeast.”
Beyond the detention of Kanu, the backlash is fueled by a deep-seated feeling of marginalization. Detractors argue that the Tinubu administration has shown a blatant disdain for the Igbo people through what they describe as “geographical snubbing”—selective infrastructure development and a perceived lack of high-level political appointments for the region.
The Infrastructure Debate
The CBM leadership attempted to counter this narrative by pointing to the work of Works Minister Dave Umahi on the Enugu–Onitsha and Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressways. But to the movement’s haters, these are mere crumbs. To them, the City Boy Movement is fundamentally anti-Igbo, a Trojan horse designed to fracture regional unity for the sake of 2027 political dividends.
The Fallout
As the CBM gears up to take the “Tinubu 2nd Term” message to the grassroots, the tension in Anambra is palpable. Will the promise of “reconnecting to the center” win over the masses, or will the label of “regional traitors” haunt Obi Cubana and his team as they navigate the volatile waters of Southeast politics?
One thing is certain: the battle for the soul of the Southeast has just become a lot more personal—and a lot more dangerous.
