Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has implied that Peter Obi cannot become president in 2027.
The minister said the South-East geopolitical zone cannot produce Nigeria’s president in 2027 but will someday.
In a statement issued on Monday, Umahi appealed to the people of the region to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in two years’ time.
Umahi was responding to an online publication titled, ‘The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?’
Umahi demanded the correction of the report and an apology.
He said the report is “misleading and inaccurate”, arguing that it portrays the Tinubu administration as sidelining the South-east in infrastructure development.
Obi, who was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, came third according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The former Anambra State governor is looking to contest the 2027 election. Currently part of the coalition in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the exercise, he enjoys popularity among the youths, many of who have asked him to leave the coalition if he would not be guaranteed the ticket.
With late president Muhammadu Buhari from the north spending eight years in power, some political elites from the region have implored their people to allow the south retain power until 2027.
However, Umahi asked Igbo to support Tinubu because he has “demonstrated unwavering love and fairness to the people” of the south-east.
“I understand that politics is now in the air and the chosen path by some persons is to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, look good before the people as one fighting for them and close both eyes pretentiously over the great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing all over the nation,” the statement reads.
“We must not be deceived again. Mr President must have the votes of the South East up to 90% to cement this relationship.”
“Enough of darkening counsel without knowledge in the South East. We must rise to educate our people.
“If we want to be president, we must avoid the politics of hate, misinformation, and sentiments.
“We must support other regions, and with God, one day, other regions will support us. Mr President must be supported to complete his tenure of 8 years, which all regions are benefitting from.
“One day, we will be number one, but not in 2027. I will vocally continue to stand against any mischief to deceive our people. We are known for hard work and love and not hate.”
The minister disclosed that he has directed all the regional directors of the ministry of works back to sites across the country to compile inherited but ongoing projects and new projects for Nigerians to appreciate the “huge works” that Tinubu is doing irrespective of who voted or did not vote for him.
He said Tinubu is using “fair distribution of infrastructure to reunite Nigerians and renew their hope, and only those who open their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria.”
“Where was the writer when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR decided to treat South East fairly in road infrastructure like other regions? Umahi asked.
“Under his administration, 90% of abandoned projects, some awarded as far back as 2013, were all revived, and all are now ongoing.”
