Tell Peter Obi It’s Not Our Turn to Be President — Dave Umahi tells Igbos

Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has called on South East residents to urge Peter Obi to set aside his presidential ambition, stating that the region should not pursue the presidency at this time.

Speaking during an inspection of the Alaoji section of the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway over the weekend, Umahi argued that the Igbo can no longer cry marginalisation, as the Tinubu administration has addressed longstanding imbalances. He insisted it is now time for the region to reciprocate by rallying behind President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

“All the marginalisation we complain about has been addressed by the President. Unless we are not being truthful to ourselves, there is no more marginalisation in the South-East,” Umahi said.

He emphasised that appointing a Minister of Works from the South-East for the first time is unprecedented. “You know, giving the Ministry of Works to the South-East is no mean feat because we have never had a Minister of Works from the zone. You can see the results and the intention of the President. You can see the goodwill of the President.”

The minister highlighted ongoing projects across the region as evidence of the administration’s commitment. “You all know the scale of work from Port Harcourt down to Enugu. Every section of this project is ongoing towards completion. Never in Nigeria’s history have we benefited as much.”

He contrasted the current situation with his past experience: “When I was deputy governor and then governor for eight years, not a single federal road project came to the state. But today, we can boast of numerous ongoing projects. We can boast of projects worth trillions of naira in the South-East, just like in other regions.”

Umahi listed other federal appointments and security postings as further indicators of inclusion. “The biggest legacy projects of the President are in the South-East. We have service chiefs, key appointments, and a lot happening in the South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He concluded by urging the region to prioritise loyalty over sentiment. “We should not be guided by sentiments or non-strategic moves. We should tell our brother, Peter Obi, that it is not yet our turn.”