The minister of works, David Umahi, has described himself as the lion of the south-east, questioning the political standing of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and asking what makes the former Anambra governor superior to him.
Umahi made the remarks on Sunday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, during a town hall meeting organised by the directorate of infrastructure, mobilisation and sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council.
He dismissed Obi as a “nobody” and criticised his promise to serve only one four-year term if elected president.
“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,” Umahi said.
The minister called on people in the south-east to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, arguing that such backing would strengthen the region’s political position when it eventually seeks to produce a president.
He maintained that the south-east had become more integrated into the federal government, pointing to appointments of people from the region to prominent positions and ongoing road rehabilitation projects as evidence of the administration’s inclusiveness.
“Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiments. Igbo man should not allow people to be dishing hate speeches on social media on their behalf,” he said.
“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 the chief of air staff, minister of works, other ministers, SSAs, what else? When I say south-east has been fully integrated and included, I mean it.”
Umahi urged the region to support Tinubu in completing his second term, saying this would demonstrate the south-east’s willingness to back other regions before its own opportunity to produce the president.
“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,” he said.
The minister also criticised supporters of Obi who, according to him, insult people who do not share their political preference.
“You insult anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi. Anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi is a saboteur; you insult the person,” he said.
He subsequently challenged Obi’s political standing by comparing him with prominent south-east politicians, including former Ebonyi governor Sam Egwu, Elias Mbam and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.
“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?”
Umahi further appealed to traditional rulers and religious leaders in the region to openly support Tinubu rather than remain neutral ahead of the elections.
“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,” Umahi said.
The former Ebonyi governor also pledged to deliver 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2027 elections.
“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,” he said.