Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, arguing that the region has no viable presidential candidate capable of securing a consensus.
Umahi made the appeal on Sunday at a town hall meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
“Let us stop deceiving ourselves. We do not have a presidential candidate in the South-East for 2027. We only have aspirants, and Ebonyi has the right to make its own choice,” he said.
The minister also questioned the credentials of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), asking whether he was more qualified than prominent South-East political figures, including former Senate President Pius Anyim, former Education Minister Sam Egwu, former chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam, and himself.
“If you don’t support Peter Obi, you are labeled a saboteur and insulted. But who is Peter Obi 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 Anyim? Whom is he better than?” he asked.
Umahi argued that supporting Tinubu for a second term would position the South-East to secure backing from other regions when the presidency eventually rotates to the zone.
He maintained that an Igbo president would require more than one term to govern effectively, insisting that the region must prioritise strategic political alliances over sentiment.
“There is no way an Igbo man, after waiting for 60 years, will accept being President for only four years. Nobody will accept that, and the North will certainly not agree to a four-year presidency,” Umahi said.
“An Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiment. We must not allow individuals to dish out hate speech on social media on our behalf. Today, our business people clear their goods with ease, and our roads are being rehabilitated to drive economic activity.”
The minister also cited appointments to key federal positions as evidence that the South-East had become more integrated into the Tinubu administration.
“Today, we can boldly say we are integrated,” he said.
“In the past, when service chiefs were selected, we only had the Chief of Naval Staff. This time, we have the Chief of Air Staff, the Minister of Works, several other ministers, and Senior Special Assistants. When I say the South-East has been fully integrated and included, I mean it.”
Umahi said he was prepared to defend his position because he wanted to establish a political foundation for the region’s future presidential ambition.
“My mouth will not be shut because I am laying down a reference point for tomorrow. We are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his remaining four years so that the South-East strategically earns the support of another region,” he said.
“When it is our turn, we won’t get it through hate speech or sentiment; it will be through strategic alliances. Yet, when leaders in the South-East point this out, they are insulted.”
He also called on traditional rulers and religious leaders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to openly support Tinubu rather than remain neutral.
“I want to tell our religious leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN): do not stay on the fence,” he said.
“I remember when I was struggling to become governor, CAN took a decision and insisted that justice must prevail. CAN should not keep quiet now. Let us toe the path that sustains our collective freedom.”
Umahi further urged traditional and religious leaders to guide their communities, arguing that political leaders in the North and South-West did not remain neutral during elections.
“Traditional fathers and religious leaders must not sit on the fence. Our people in the North don’t sit on the fence; our people in the South-West don’t sit on the fence. Guide our people and let them know the truth,” he said.
On the 2027 governorship election in Ebonyi State, the minister dismissed opposition parties challenging Governor Francis Nwifuru’s re-election bid as “jokers”, insisting that he would not allow another party to take over the state.
He disclosed that Ebonyi had 1.8 million registered voters and challenged the state to deliver at least 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Nwifuru.
“We have 1.8 million registered voters in Ebonyi State. If we do not deliver at least 1.3 million votes for the President and the Governor, then we are doing ourselves a great disservice,” he said.
