City Boy Crisis Deepens In Abia As Youths Protest Organising Secretary’s Suspension
By AMAKA OHAFIAH
Suspension Triggers Protest
A leadership crisis has emerged within the City Boy Movement in Abia State following the suspension of its state Organising Secretary, Dr. Charles Ukeagu.
The development has triggered protests by some youths and supporters of the movement at its headquarters in Umuahia.
The protesters demanded the reversal of Ukeagu’s suspension and called for an amicable resolution of the disagreement.
Ukeagu was suspended by the state Director of the movement, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe.
Youths Defend Suspended Organising Secretary
Speaking during the protest, the State Campus Youth Leader, Emeka Kenneth Uche, popularly known as Prince of Igbo, described the action against Ukeagu as a matter requiring urgent intervention.
Uche said the protest was peaceful and aimed at pressing the leadership to reconsider the suspension.
He described Ukeagu as one of the key figures who contributed to the development of the movement across the Southeast.
According to him, Ukeagu deployed his administrative experience to build the organisation and strengthen its structure.
He appealed to the leadership to resolve the disagreement through dialogue rather than allowing it to deepen.
Uche also called on Seyi Tinubu, whom he described as the capacity leader of the City Boy Movement in Nigeria, to intervene in the dispute.
Ukeagu Rejects Grounds for Suspension
Ukeagu said he was not aware of any offence that justified his suspension.
He attributed the dispute to his insistence that the organisation should operate according to what he considered proper administrative procedures.
One issue he specifically raised was the appointment of a Deputy Director.
Ukeagu alleged that the appointee came from the same constituency as the state Director.
He argued that the arrangement could create the perception that the movement’s leadership structure was becoming concentrated in one constituency.
He noted that several other principal officers, including himself and the movement’s patron, also came from the same area.
Six-Month Suspension
Ukeagu said he had received a letter suspending him for six months.
He described the decision as counterproductive, particularly because of what he said was his contribution to building the movement’s administrative structure and mobilising members.
He argued that removing active officials could weaken the organisation at a time when it should be expanding its membership.
According to him, the movement needs more members and active organisers to support its political objectives.
Membership Expansion at the Centre of Dispute
Ukeagu questioned why the movement would suspend members when its priority should be to expand its support base.
He said every new member represented an additional person available to strengthen the organisation.
His position reflects a broader concern about the balance between internal disciplinary measures and the need for political mobilisation.
For Ukeagu, the immediate challenge is not simply his suspension but what he sees as the potential impact of internal disputes on the movement’s organisational strength.
Call for Reconciliation
Despite the disagreement, Ukeagu has called for restraint among his supporters.
He said he remained committed to reconciliation and peaceful resolution of the dispute.
He also expressed willingness to work towards restoring unity within the movement.
His appeal comes amid growing concerns that the disagreement could affect the organisation’s cohesion and mobilisation activities in Abia.
Political Implications
The dispute comes as political organisations across the country intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
City Boy Movement supporters in Abia have linked their activities to the campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A prolonged internal disagreement could therefore affect the movement’s ability to recruit members, coordinate structures and sustain grassroots activities.
For now, the central issue remains whether the leadership will reverse Ukeagu’s suspension or allow the disciplinary action to stand.
The protests and calls for intervention indicate that the dispute has moved beyond an internal administrative disagreement and become a public leadership challenge within the Abia chapter of the movement.
