Umahi: “South East No Longer Obidient, Now Totally Behind Tinubu”

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, has down- played the acclaimed political influence of Peter Obi, the Labour Party LP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections, in the South East region of Nigeria.

At the Ohanivo 2025 New Yam Festival in Onitcha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Saturday, September, 27,2025,  Umahi insisted that the South East region is no longer in solidarity with the Obidient Movement ,but now, manifestly behind the second term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the influence of Obi in the political configuration of the region, as well as that  of his Obidient Movement have been considerably whittled down by the unprecedented leadership qualities of President Tinubu.

The former Ebonyi State Governor noted several years of marginalization, and the visible efforts of the present administration at the centre at re-writting the ugly narratives, have become a turning point in the South East alliance.

According to Umahi, come 2027, the region,  particularly, Ebonyi State, will vote massively for the re-election bid of President Tinubu.

“We are not Obidient people. We have been so marginalized that we are no longer Obidient. No, we are not.

“But it is the man that has given us a sense of belonging, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we will rally behind. Let it not be that we are from Ebonyi State and they are saying this State belongs to them (Obidients). There is no Obidient person in Ebonyi state.

“The people of the South East region have grown politically wiser, and as such, will not be deceived again like was done in 2023.

“What we have to do is to record the good things that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done for the South East and Ebonyi state when the time comes.

“We Will not be deceived again because the last election was a mistake. But we have become wiser. I will not finish naming all that the President is doing for us”, Umahi stated.

The Works Minister expressed the optimism that the 2027 general elections will provide the people of the South East region the opportunity to show appreciation to the All Progressive Congress APC-led Federal Government for wiping out their tears through inclusive politics.