Igbo women under the aegis of Igbo Women Assembly have strongly criticized Works Minister David Umahi for claiming President Bola Tinubu has been fair to the Southeast, while also disagreeing with Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo’s assertion that only a Northern candidate can defeat Tinubu in 2027.
IWA National President Lolo Nneka Chimezie, in a statement, dismissed both positions as “empty defeatist rhetoric,” accusing Umahi of displaying “slave mentality and invasive sycophantic malady.” The group challenged Umahi to substantiate his claims of Tinubu’s fairness to the region.
“May we remind Umahi that Tinubu has not shown that he is different from Buhari in sidelining Ndigbo from political appointments. Is Umahi not aware that two out of five Ministers from the South East in Tinubu’s cabinet are junior Ministers, at a time one state in the South West has three Ministers?” the statement read.
The women questioned Tinubu’s commitment to the Southeast, citing the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and the inactive Enugu-Aba rail project.
“If President Tinubu truly loves Ndigbo the way Umahi claims, why is our son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu still in detention for over two years since he came to power?” they asked.
IWA advised Igbo politicians to prioritize regional interests over personal gains, warning that history remembers “politically-correct Igbo elite who were used and dumped.” They particularly urged support for Peter Obi, whom they described as having the competence to lead Nigeria.
Regarding Okonkwo’s comments, IWA expressed disappointment, stating: “IWA considers his remarks that it’s only a Northern presidential candidate who can win President Tinubu in 2027 as suspicious. It has left many of his admirers confused.”
The group reminded Okonkwo that “Nigerians have come to realise that Peter Obi’s candidacy is not about Igbo presidency but about fixing Nigeria,” urging him to maintain his previous stance against the political establishment.
IWA also cautioned the African Democratic Congress against fielding a Northern candidate in 2027, warning that “the whole South will cast off party and tribal sentiments and unite against such a move!” They argued the presidency should remain in the South to complete its constitutional term before rotating North.
The statement concluded by emphasizing growing national support for Obi’s candidacy across tribal and religious lines, noting that his 2023 performance without strong political structures suggests even greater potential in 2027 with coalition backing.
