Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ruled out the possibility of the South-East presenting a presidential contender with sufficient standing for the 2027 elections, describing the ambition of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as unconvincing.
The former Ebonyi State governor questioned Obi’s political credentials, referring to him as “nobody” and challenging claims that he was the most suitable person from the region to occupy Nigeria’s highest political office.
Umahi argued that several other South-East political figures possessed comparable or greater qualifications than Obi. Among those he mentioned were former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, ex-Education Minister Sam Egwu and former Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission chairman, Elias Mbam. He also included himself in the list, adopting the title “Lion of the South-East”.
He maintained that the region should throw its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term, saying such a political decision could improve its prospects of receiving support from other parts of the country when it seeks to produce a future president.
The minister made his position known at a political gathering in Abakaliki, organised by the Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation Directorate of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
He further challenged clerics and traditional institutions in the region to take a definite position on the 2027 presidential contest, rather than avoid publicly expressing their political preferences.
Addressing the gathering, the minister said, “I want to tell our religious leaders and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), do not stay on the fence. I know when I was struggling to be Governor, CAN took a decision and said justice must prevail. CAN, don’t keep quiet; let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom.
“There is no way an Igbo man, after staying for 60 years, will want to be President for four years. There is nobody that can accept that. The North has not accepted to be President for four years. Somebody was telling me that Atiku’s son bought buses and donated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and said this is a personal donation.
“Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiments. Igbo man should not allow people to be dishing hate speeches on social media on their behalf. Today, our people in commerce, we clear our goods with ease. Today, our roads are being revived in the path of economic activities. Today, we can boldly say we have been integrated. The last time they were choosing service chiefs, it was the Naval Chief. This time, it is Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Works, other Ministers, SSAs, what else? When I say South-East have been fully integrated and included, I mean it.
“My mouth will not shut up because I am telling our people for a reference for tomorrow. We are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to finish his remaining four years so that the South-East would have strategically supported another region. So that when it is our turn, we will not get this thing by hate speeches; they will not give to us by sentiments. If strategic leaders of the South-East say this, you will now insult them.
“You insult anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi. Anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi is a saboteur; you insult the person. Who is Peter Obi better than? Who is he better than? Is he better than Sam Egwu? Is he better than Elias Mbam? Is he better than the Lion of the South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius? Who is better than?
“So, I don’t want us to be deceiving ourselves. We don’t have any presidential candidate in the South-East. We have people who are vying; Ebonyi has a right to make a choice. Traditional fathers, do not stay on the fence; religious leaders, do not stay on the fence. Our people in the North do not; our people in the South-West, they do not. Guide our people, let them know what,” the minister stated.
Umahi also announced his intention to mobilise 1.3 million votes in Ebonyi State for Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru at the next general elections.
He expressed determination to ensure the APC retains its grip on the state, dismissing the prospects of rival parties taking over the government. According to him, anyone expecting to defeat Nwifuru in the governorship race was merely entertaining unrealistic expectations.
He said, “We have 1.8 million registered voters in Ebonyi State. Let me tell you, if we are not donating 1.3 million votes for the President, for the Governor, we are doing ourselves a disservice.”
