Igbo women, under the aegis of Igbo Women Assembly, (IWA), have expressed their disgust over a statement by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, claiming that President Tinubu has been very fair to the South-East geo-political zone.
Recall that Umahi had, in a statement on Monday, stated that the Presidency was not realisable for the South-East in 2027, advising Ndigbo to rather support President Tinubu in 2027 elections.
However, the Igbo women, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed their disappointment over the position by Umahi, dismissing his view as “empty defeatist rhetoric, narrowly-minded and suspicious”.
The women, in a strong-worded statement issued by the National President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, described Umahi as beginning to manifest “signs of slave mentality and invasive sycophantic malady”, challenging him “to publish what President Tinubu has done specially for the South East to confirm the imaginary special love he has for Ndigbo”.
According to IWA, the difference between President Tinubu and his predecessors is yet to be seen regarding Igbo marginalisation, especially in political appointments, stating, “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 South-East in Tinubu’s cabinet are junior Ministers at a time one state in South West has three Ministers?
“Can Umahi publish the names of people from the South-East appointed Heads of federal agencies and parastatals by Tinubu, for us to know he has been fair to us more than other zones? If he so much loves Ndigbo as Umahi claims, why is our son, Nnamdi Kanu still in detention over two years since he came to power? Why is the Enugu-Aba rail track still inactive?”
“We hope Umahi is aware that every geo-political zone now has a regional Development Commission”, they further stated.
According to them, “In as much as the marginalisation and political exclusion of Ndigbo did not begin with President Tinubu, he hasn’t done anything either to suggest he wants to stop or change the narrative”.
The Igbo women advised Umahi and “other Igbo sycophantic and self-centred politicians” to learn fast from their counterparts from other zones “who know how to place regional interests above personal gains”, while regretting that instead of using their privileged positions to advance the Igbo cause, the Igbo political elite rather derive pleasure in “over-blowing the trumpets of their pay masters to curry more favour even at the expense of the entire Igbo race”.
IWA also advised the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), not to make the mistake of not considering a Southerner for its presidential ticket, arguing that the coalition will naturally lose the support of the South if it fields a Northern presidential candidate in 2027.
They warned, “If the ADC fails to give its presidential ticket to a Southern candidate with national appeal like Peter Obi, the coalition will fail. The South has not completed their turn, and it will be injustice for the North to think of hijacking power again in 2027. The whole South will cast-off party and tribal sentiments and unite against such a move!”.
