In a statement issued yesterday, Ohanaeze said the call was driven by an “unwavering commitment to the patrimony of the Igbo people” and the urgent need to halt what it described as the steady erosion of Igbo values, culture, and leadership structures.
The statement, signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and Chief Chinyereze Ohia, National Spokesman, urged elder statesmen and retired leaders, particularly those aged 65 to 70 and above, to resettle in the Southeast and contribute directly to rebuilding the region.
Ohanaeze argued that the prolonged absence of influential Igbo leaders abroad has created a leadership vacuum, worsening insecurity in the region, discouraging major investments by wealthy Igbo citizens, and weakening mentorship and succession planning for younger generations.
“The persistent absence of our illustrious leaders has accelerated the decline of our cultural practices and languages, while leaving our youth without guidance at a critical moment in our history,” the statement said.
The organisation contrasted the situation in the Southeast with other regions, noting that many retired leaders from the Southwest returned home after retirement and remained actively involved in regional development.
Ohanaeze cited figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Pa Olu Falae, and Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka as examples of leaders whose presence continues to shape policy, culture, and economic growth in their communities.
The group also said the absence of Igbo leaders has weakened initiatives such as the Aku-Ruo-Ulo campaign, which encourages Igbo businesspeople to reinvest in the Southeast.
Ohanaeze warned that without strong leadership presence, youth restiveness and violence would continue to rise.
The organisation also criticized the federal government’s decision to remove history from the school curriculum, saying it would further erode cultural values and national identity among the youth.
Reflecting on the legacy of past Igbo icons such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Dr. Michael Okpara, Ohanaeze said these leaders chose to spend their final years in their homeland despite the trauma of the Nigerian Civil War.
“Our appeal is not an indictment of these revered figures,” the organisation clarified, “but a respectful reminder that the future of the Igbo nation depends on their wisdom, presence, and active engagement.”
Ohanaeze expressed confidence that the return of Igbo leaders would help reposition the Southeast as a leading economic destination in Africa, revive political participation, and inspire a new generation of leaders.
