“Stop deceiving Ndigbo” – Igbo women group blast Umahi for praising Tinubu

The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has criticised David Umahi, Minister of Works, for saying President Bola Tinubu has been fair to the South-East.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, national president of IWA, said Umahi’s comments do not reflect the reality on the ground and urged him to stop “deceiving Ndigbo”.

Umahi had said the South-East should forget about producing a president in 2027 and instead support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a Nollywood actor and lawyer, also backed Umahi’s position, describing Tinubu as a fair leader.

But IWA rejected both claims, saying the president has shown no significant departure from the marginalisation witnessed under previous administrations.

Chimezie said: “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 — while one state in the South-West has three full ministers?”

The group challenged Umahi to publish the names of South-Easterners appointed to head federal agencies and parastatals by the Tinubu administration.

“If he so much loves Ndigbo, why is our son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu still in detention more than two years since he came into office?” she asked.

Chimezie also decried the inactivity of the Enugu-Aba rail line, adding that other geopolitical zones now have regional development commissions, unlike the South-East.

“Let Umahi learn from political leaders in other regions who know how to prioritise collective interest over personal gains,” she said.

The group warned Igbo politicians against further division, saying unity was critical ahead of the 2027 elections.

Referencing Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential run, IWA said his performance showed the strength of the region’s political will, even without a formal structure.

“If Peter Obi could poll over six million votes in 2023 without structure, imagine the momentum now with a growing coalition,” Chimezie said.

IWA also advised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) not to alienate the South by fielding a northern presidential candidate in 2027.

“If the coalition fails to consider a Southerner for its presidential ticket, it will naturally lose support from the region,” she said.