Works Minister David Umahi has described himself as the lion of the South-East, saying Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), is not better than him.
Umahi spoke on Sunday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, at a town hall organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He described Obi as a “nobody”, faulting his promise to serve only a 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.
He urged the people of the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, adding that doing so would position the region to benefit politically when it was its turn to produce the president.
The minister said the South-East had been integrated into the federal government, citing the appointment of people from the region to key positions and road rehabilitation projects as evidence of the administration’s inclusion.
“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 said the region should support Tinubu to complete his second term, adding that this would demonstrate its willingness to support other regions before its own turn 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 challenged Obi’s political standing while criticising those who allegedly insult people who do not support the former Anambra governor.
“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.
“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?”
He urged traditional rulers and religious leaders in the region to openly support Tinubu, urging them not to remain neutral.
“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 governor of Ebonyi said he would deliver 1.3 million votes for Tinubu and Francis Nwifuru, governor of the state, 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.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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