Minister of Works and former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has made a direct appeal to Nigerians from the South-East geopolitical zone, urging them to communicate to Peter Obi that he should drop his presidential aspirations because it is not the appropriate time for anyone from the region to become President of Nigeria.
Umahi's Call During Infrastructure Inspection
While conducting an inspection of the ongoing construction works at the Alaoji axis of the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway over the weekend, Umahi articulated his position clearly. He stated that the Igbo people can no longer legitimately complain about marginalization, as the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, in his view, "corrected the abnormally." Consequently, Umahi expects the South-East to reciprocate by voting overwhelmingly for Tinubu during the 2027 general elections.
Addressing Claims of Marginalization
In his own words, Umahi declared, "All the marginalisation we complain about has been addressed by the President. Unless we are not being truthful to ourselves, there is no more marginalisation in the South-East." He emphasized the significance of appointing a Minister of Works from the South-East, noting it as an unprecedented achievement for the zone. "You know, giving the Ministry of Works to the South-East is no mean feat because we have never had a Minister of Works from the zone. You can see the results and the intention of the President. You can see the goodwill of the President," Umahi added.
Highlighting Infrastructure and Appointments
Umahi pointed to the extensive scale of work on the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway as evidence of the administration's commitment. "So, it’s time for payback. You all know the scale of work from Port Harcourt down to Enugu. Every section of this project is ongoing towards completion. Never in Nigeria’s history have we benefited as much," he asserted.
Reflecting on his own experience, Umahi contrasted the past with the present: "When I was deputy governor and then governor for eight years, not a single federal road project came to the state. But today, we can boast of numerous ongoing projects. We can boast of projects worth trillions of naira in the South-East, just like in other regions."
Tinubu's Legacy and Strategic Support
The Minister further elaborated on what he described as President Tinubu's legacy projects in the South-East, alongside key appointments. "The biggest legacy projects of the President are in the South-East. We have service chiefs, key appointments, and a lot happening in the South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. So, it’s time to support the President. The people of the South-East should support the President," Umahi emphasized.
Concluding his remarks, Umahi advised against emotional or non-strategic decisions. "We should not be guided by sentiments or non-strategic moves. We should tell our brother, Peter Obi, that it is not yet our turn," he stated firmly, reinforcing his call for the South-East to align with Tinubu's administration rather than pursuing a presidential bid through Obi.
