We’re Not 2nd – Class Citizens In Igbo Land — Umahi Urges Ebonyi People Not To Vote Peter Obi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called on the people of Ebonyi State not to support the presidential ambition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, saying Ebonyi people have the right to make political decisions in their own interest without facing insults.

Umahi made the remarks while addressing people of the state in a video circulating on social media on Wednesday, where he accused supporters of Obi of attacking Ebonyi leaders for openly declaring that they would not support the former Anambra State governor.

“You are calling out people like us because we said we will not vote for him and we tell our people not to vote for him, and you are insulting us,” Umahi said.

He questioned Obi’s relationship with Ebonyi people, alleging that the former governor did not appoint any indigene of the state into his administration while serving as governor of Anambra State.

“Peter Obi should mention one Ebonyi person that he gave an appointment to when he was governor of Anambra.

“When they removed Abakaliki Street that had been there for over fifty years, you said nothing. It’s only when it comes to votes that they say we Ebonyi people are one with other states in the South East. But when it comes to insulting us, they insult us,” Umahi stated.

He maintained that Ebonyi people should not be treated as inferior within the South-East and should be free to determine their political direction.

“Because we say we won’t vote for him and we tell our people not to vote for him, you’re insulting us? We’re not second-class citizens in Igbo land. We have a right to decide what will be good for our people,” he added.

Umahi also spoke on the issue of power rotation, arguing that political offices should follow an established zoning arrangement.

According to him, just as he believes it is not yet the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s president, it is also not the turn of Ebonyi South Senatorial District to produce the next governor of Ebonyi State.

“Just like it’s not the turn of the South East and Peter Obi to be president of Nigeria, it’s not the turn of Ebonyi South to be governor of Ebonyi State,” he said.

The minister further disclosed that he would engage with the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state, Anyi Chuks, who is seeking the governorship position, on the issue of zoning.

“So I will go and talk to Anyi Chuks to step down from his governorship campaign. It’s turn by turn,” Umahi said.