Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, has urged the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Umahi made the appeal on Sunday in Abakaliki at a town hall meeting organised by the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The meeting was organised by the council’s Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation.
He dismissed Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), questioning his superiority over prominent Ebonyi politicians.
Umahi listed himself, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Education Minister, Sam Egwu, and former Revenue Mobilisation Commission Chairman, Elias Mbam.
He queried: “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?”
The former Ebonyi governor argued that supporting Tinubu for another four years would strengthen the South-East’s prospects of producing Nigeria’s next president.
He said the region should pursue its presidential ambition through strategic political alliances rather than sentiments and hate speeches.
“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 added.
He said supporting Tinubu would demonstrate the South-East’s willingness to accommodate other regions’ political interests.
He said: “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 it to us by sentiments”.
Umahi urged religious and traditional leaders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to openly support Tinubu.
“Do not stay on the fence. CAN should not keep quiet. Let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom,” he urged.
He maintained that the South-East had enjoyed increased political inclusion under the Tinubu administration.
He cited appointments into key government positions, including service chiefs, ministers and senior presidential aides.
Umahi also highlighted improvements in road infrastructure and economic activities, particularly the ease of clearing goods by regional traders.
“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.
The minister pledged that Ebonyi would deliver 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru in the 2027 elections.
He said the state had approximately 1.8 million registered voters, insisting that delivering fewer votes would amount to a disservice.
“If we are not donating 1.3 million votes for the President and the Governor, we are doing ourselves a disservice,” he said.
Umahi also dismissed suggestions that the APC could lose the Ebonyi governorship election, describing those entertaining such expectations as jokers.
Umahi governed Ebonyi from 2015 to 2023 before his appointment as Minister of Works.
