Umahi Urges South-East to Support Tinubu’s Re-election, Says It Could Boost Region’s 2027 Presidential Ambition

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has urged the South-East to adopt strategic political engagement and avoid hate speech, harassment and blackmail if the region hopes to produce Nigeria’s president in the future.

Umahi said the region should support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and allow him to complete a second term, arguing that such support could strengthen the South-East’s political alliances and improve its chances when power next rotates to the region.

The minister made the appeal while addressing members of the Abakaliki Urban Community, comprising Hausa, Yoruba and other non-indigene groups, as well as residents from Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Abia states living in Ebonyi State.

He called on the people to support Tinubu, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

According to Umahi, the South-East should work towards securing a full eight-year presidential tenure when it becomes the region’s turn, rather than pursue what he described as a four-year arrangement reportedly proposed by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

He warned that the region could not achieve its political ambitions through hostility towards people with different political opinions.

“Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiments. Igbo man should not allow people to be dishing hate speeches in the social media on their behalf,” Umahi said.

The minister also argued that the South-East had benefited from the Tinubu administration, pointing to federal road projects, improved representation in government and developments he said had made it easier for traders in the region to clear their goods.

He cited the appointment of an Igbo naval chief during the previous service chiefs’ appointments and the region’s representation in the current administration as evidence of what he described as greater inclusion.

Umahi said supporting Tinubu for another four years would demonstrate the South-East’s willingness to build political alliances with other regions ahead of its own presidential ambition.

“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 stated.

He also questioned the basis for committing the entire South-East to a four-year presidential arrangement without obtaining the consent of leaders across the region.

The minister condemned attacks, harassment and blackmail directed at people who do not support Obi, insisting that political disagreements should not become grounds for intimidation.

“We cannot produce President through blackmail, harassment, attacks on ourselves. How can one person sign agreement to rule for only four years without the consent of entire South-East leaders?” he asked.

Umahi further highlighted federal infrastructure projects in Anambra State, claiming that several roads had been awarded for construction under the Tinubu administration.

He urged residents of Ebonyi to support Governor Nwifuru and other APC candidates, saying political cooperation would promote peace and development in the state.

In a related engagement, the minister met with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South-East at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, where he appealed to religious leaders to avoid allowing regional and religious sentiments to determine their political positions.

He encouraged them to promote the policies and projects of Tinubu and South-East governors, arguing that the region needed stronger alliances with other parts of the country to advance its political interests.

Among the infrastructure projects he highlighted were the proposed Trans-Sahara Highway and a superhighway expected to link Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.

Umahi urged the religious leaders to encourage support for the President and governors in the region, saying their development efforts deserved recognition.

Leaders of CAN in the South-East who spoke at the meeting subsequently endorsed Tinubu for a second term.