Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the South-East will eventually produce Nigeria’s president but maintained that he does not believe the time has come for an Igbo candidate to occupy the position.
Umahi made the remarks on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State, while speaking during the Federal Government’s intervention on the Benin-Asaba Road and responding to political criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former Ebonyi State governor also addressed comments comparing him with the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, questioning the basis for claims that the former Anambra State governor was superior to him.
Umahi said such comparisons should take into consideration their respective family backgrounds, intellectual capacity, records of public service and contributions to the South-East.
“When that guy says that Peter Obi is not my match, it took me ten minutes to think about it,” the minister said, before asking how the two men differed in their contributions to the region and their records as former governors.
Turning to the 2027 presidential election, Umahi said the South-East would have its opportunity to produce a president in the future but argued that the current political moment belonged to Tinubu.
“What we are saying is that it is not the turn of Igbos yet. We will one day become president, but it is not yet our turn; it is the turn of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
He also rejected the suggestion that the Igbo would never produce a Nigerian president, stressing that the South-East would eventually occupy the presidency.
Umahi further defended his support for Tinubu, saying members of the administration would continue to respond to criticism of the President and highlight what they consider the achievements of the Federal Government.
The minister argued that infrastructure projects undertaken by the administration were having an impact across different parts of the country, including the South-East.
His comments have since generated debate, particularly over the principle of rotational presidency and whether political power should be considered on a zonal basis or according to individual political mandates.
Meanwhile, Umahi used the Benin event to announce plans for a major intervention on the 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba dual carriageway.
He said President Tinubu had directed that the road be redesigned with reinforced concrete pavement following the failure of negotiations with the concessionaire over the continuation of the existing arrangement.
The minister said temporary rehabilitation would also be undertaken while the longer-term reconstruction plan was being developed.
Umahi’s comments on the 2027 presidency come as political parties and aspirants continue to position themselves ahead of the next general election.
