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2027: Umahi Urges Igbos to Support Tinubu’s Re-election, Gives Reasons
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has declared his unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the President as a blessing to the South-East because of his administration’s achievements in the region and across the country.
Umahi made the declaration on Sunday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) town hall meeting held at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The meeting, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement in the South-East, Barrister Chioma Nweze, was aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the gathering, former Senator representing Ebonyi Central, Julius Ali Ucha, moved a motion adopting Tinubu for re-election, alongside Governor Nwifuru and all APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
The motion was seconded by former Senator representing Ebonyi North, Anthony Agbo, while Umahi, who presided over the proceedings, put it to a voice vote and received widespread endorsement from participants.
Addressing party faithful, Umahi, who described himself as a lion of the South-East, urged traditional rulers and religious leaders to openly support Tinubu, warning against allowing regional sentiments to undermine what he described as the strategic political interests of the Igbo people.
He argued that the South-East should support Tinubu to complete his second term, maintaining that such political cooperation would strengthen the region’s prospects of producing Nigeria’s president in the future.
“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,” he said.
The former Ebonyi governor maintained that the South-East had benefited from Tinubu’s administration through improved infrastructure, greater political inclusion and appointments into strategic government positions.
“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 there were chosen service chiefs, it was Naval Chief. This time, it is Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Works, other ministers, SSAs. What else?” Umahi said.
He added that the South-East should pursue its political interests through strategic alliances rather than hate speeches and sentiments.
“My mouth will not shut up because I am telling our people for a reference for tomorrow. 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.
Umahi also criticised what he described as attacks against South-East political leaders who do not support Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
He questioned the tendency to portray those who support other political candidates as enemies of the Igbo people, insisting that the region should accommodate different political opinions.
“Anybody that is not supporting Peter Obi is a saboteur, you insult the person. 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 South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius? Whom is he better than?” he queried.
The minister further appealed to traditional rulers, Christian leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to take a clear position in support of Tinubu and the APC.
“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 should not keep quiet,” he said.
He also called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to engage individuals contesting against the state’s existing zoning arrangement and encourage support for Governor Nwifuru’s re-election.
Other speakers at the town hall meeting included traditional rulers Ezeogo Charles Nkpume and Ezeogo Sunday Oketa; Bishop Onyeuwa Omar; CAN Chairman, Stan Nwokolo; Pastor Eunice Oyeyemi of Divine Mandate Pastors; and former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Professor Chigozie Ogbu.
The stakeholders also deliberated on strategies to strengthen the APC’s political support base in the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
