‘People Climbed Over Each Other’: City Boys Empowerment Programme in Imo Ends in Chaos

‘People Climbed Over Each Other’: City Boys Empowerment Programme in Imo Ends in Chaos.

What was meant to be a day of giving turned into something else entirely over the weekend in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The City Boys Movement organised an empowerment programme for people of the South-East, but the event quickly fell apart as participants fought among themselves to get their hands on the items on offer.

The gathering took place at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, a well-known open space in the city. Organisers had laid out sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, and even laptops. These were meant to go to carefully selected beneficiaries. But when the time came for distribution, the crowd had other ideas.

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Despite the presence of security operatives at the venue, people pushed past barriers and surged toward the items. Witnesses described scenes of shouting, pushing, and people climbing over one another. Some said the situation could have gotten much worse if not for the quick actions of a few security men who managed to pull people back.

The commotion started just as the National Leader of the City Boys Movement, Seyi Tinubu, was preparing to begin the official handover to the chosen beneficiaries. It is not clear whether any of the items were eventually distributed as planned.

Cubana Chief Priest Speaks Before the Chaos

Before the crowd broke loose, the director of the movement in Imo State, Pascal Ikechukwu, who is better known as Cubana Chief Priest, addressed those who had gathered. His speech touched on politics, the place of the Igbo in Nigeria, and why the group had decided to work with the current administration.

He said the movement had chosen to partner with President Bola Tinubu’s government to secure what he called a fair share for the Igbo people.

“What we have shown you today is abundant love, and we expect that in return,” he told the crowd. “Ndigbo, we are people defeated in war. It is not easy for us. We are just seeking a fair share. We are Igbo. We are tired of fighting; we want to apply sense in getting what we seek.”

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He went on to explain that the group had decided against confrontation. “We have decided to partner with the government at the centre. We are not ready to fight. We have tried fighting, and it didn’t work for us. The best we can do is a partnership. We have shown you love, Seyi Tinubu, and I know you will reciprocate in a dozen-fold.”

On his own political journey, Cubana Chief Priest was open. “At the last election, I didn’t support Asiwaju; I had to be an Igbo boy. Politics is a game, and it’s a game you love to win. We don’t want to lose again,” he said.

For many people watching the videos that later circulated online, the question was simple: how did an event meant to help people end in such disorder?

Some who attended said the organisers had underestimated the number of people who would show up. Word had spread quickly in the days leading up to the event, and many came hoping to get something, even if they had not been pre-selected. When it became clear that there were not enough items for everyone, desperation took over.

A trader who was at the square told this reporter that she had travelled from a nearby village after hearing about the freezers. “I sell meat. A freezer would have changed my business,” she said. “But by the time I got close to where they were keeping the items, people were already fighting. I ran away. I did not want to get hurt.”

Another attendee, a young man who gave his name as Chibueze, said he had his eye on a laptop. “I saw someone grab one and run. Three people chased him. I do not know if they caught him,” he said.

News of the chaos spread quickly on social media, drawing mixed reactions. Some people criticised the organisers for poor planning. Others blamed the crowd for acting entitled and unruly. A few pointed out that empowerment programmes in Nigeria often end this way because poverty has made people desperate.

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One commenter wrote: “You cannot put laptops and freezers in an open square with thousands of hungry people and expect calm. Someone should have thought this through.”

Another person defended the attendees: “These are people who have nothing. If you dangle something in front of them, do not be surprised when they go for it.”

As of the time of this report, neither Seyi Tinubu nor Cubana Chief Priest has released a statement addressing the chaos. There is also no word on whether the movement plans to hold another event or find a different way to distribute the remaining items.

The incident at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square has raised questions about how political and social groups carry out empowerment programmes in the South-East. Many such events have become popular in recent years, with politicians and wealthy individuals using them to build goodwill. But when things go wrong, the damage to reputations can be serious.

For the City Boys Movement, the challenge now is to show that they can learn from what happened. Whether they will try again or quietly move on from the experience remains to be seen.

For now, the people of Owerri are left with a story to tell. Some got items. Many went home empty-handed. And a few left with bruises they did not have when they arrived.

‘People Climbed Over Each Other’: City Boys Empowerment Programme in Imo Ends in Chaos.