2027: Like It or Not, Tinubu will win Presidential election -Umahi tells Obi, Igbos

…Questions Obi’s Mandate to Negotiate Igbo Presidency for Four Years

By Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election, irrespective of opposition efforts, while challenging former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to explain who authorized him to negotiate the political future of the South-East for a single four-year presidential tenure.

Umahi, who made the remarks on Monday, accused Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of allegedly attempting to mortgage the political destiny of the Igbo people through what he described as a unilateral arrangement that could limit the region’s quest for the presidency to four years.

The minister spoke while addressing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South-East, representatives of Hausa and Yoruba communities, and other prominent stakeholders during an engagement meeting held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre and Osborn Hotel in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

He urged Igbo political leaders and stakeholders to look beyond sentiments and carefully examine the political implications of their decisions ahead of the 2027 general election.

Umahi specifically questioned the basis upon which Obi could allegedly commit the collective political interest of the South-East to a four-year presidential arrangement without consulting traditional rulers, religious leaders, governors and other critical stakeholders in the region.

“Who discussed that? How can one man take the destiny of the entire nation and go and pledge it and say we will do for it? What can we achieve in four years?” Umahi queried.

He argued that the South-East should not allow its long-standing quest for political inclusion and national leadership to be determined by an arrangement that, according to him, had not received the collective approval of the region’s leadership.

The former Ebonyi State governor maintained that the Igbo people needed a broader political conversation capable of securing their long-term interests rather than decisions driven by emotions or individual political ambitions.

He also urged the people of the South-East to reflect on the region’s political experiences since the end of the Nigerian Civil War, particularly the need for reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

According to him, the administration of President Tinubu has demonstrated a commitment to reintegrating the South-East into the mainstream of national politics, despite what he described as the region’s limited electoral support for the President during the previous election.

Umahi recalled that previous administrations had governed for eight years without receiving substantial electoral support from the South-East, arguing that the region should assess political leadership based on tangible development outcomes rather than partisan sentiments.

He further warned against what he described as the growing influence of divisive political narratives and hostility on social media, saying such developments were inconsistent with the traditional values of the Igbo people.

The minister identified honesty, unity, hard work, commitment and accommodation as the enduring values of the Igbo nation, urging political actors and supporters to avoid using ethnic sentiments to intimidate or discredit those with differing political opinions.

Umahi also revisited the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying he had consistently warned against approaches capable of worsening insecurity, economic losses and human suffering in the South-East.

He questioned the economic and social consequences of insecurity in the region, including the destruction of businesses, loss of lives and disruption of commercial activities.

The minister insisted that Igbo leaders must collectively examine the underlying causes of the region’s challenges and pursue solutions through dialogue, constructive engagement and responsible political leadership.

On infrastructure, Umahi highlighted the Federal Government’s ongoing road projects, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other strategic road networks, saying they were helping to improve connectivity between the South-East and other parts of the country. 

He argued that the Igbo people were not demanding preferential treatment but equity, fairness and justice, adding that improved infrastructure and political inclusion should be acknowledged in assessing the Federal Government’s relationship with the region.

Umahi further cited his involvement in strategic national assignments and international engagements as evidence of the administration’s confidence in the capacity of South-East leaders to contribute to national development.

He therefore appealed to Igbo political leaders, traditional rulers, religious institutions and other stakeholders to close ranks, engage in constructive discussions and ensure that the region’s political decisions reflect its collective aspirations.

The minister maintained that although he was confident of Tinubu’s victory in 2027, his greater concern was ensuring that the President secured substantial electoral support from the South-East.

He urged the people not to allow political disagreements to undermine the region’s relationship with the Federal Government, stressing that national integration, infrastructure development and political participation should remain central to the South-East’s political calculations.