By Rt. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie
The recent comments by David Umahi, former governor of Ebonyi State and current Minister of Works during a project flag-off in Afikpo, Ebonyi State; are a clear case of political grandstanding, tailored not for the people of Ebonyi or the Southeast, but to curry favor with the political center and secure his personal relevance in 2027.
His assertion that “there is no opposition in Ebonyi” is not only undemocratic in tone but also revealing of a deeply flawed understanding of democratic governance by a man so appears used to riding roughshod of processes and procedures.
Opposition is not a nuisance—it is the soul of democracy. It is the mechanism through which governments are held accountable, and citizens demand better. It is the singular process that produced President Tinubu, who he now wants to crush all opposition and run away with Nigeria.
Umahi boasted of having fought “wars” during his time as Governor, yet failed to mention the poverty, unemployment, and deep insecurity that plagued Ebonyi State under his tenure. Ebonyi was, and probably remains, the poverty capital of the Southeast.
The “peace” he claims now under Governor Nwifuru is not the fruit of consensus or progress—it is a forced silence, a suppression of dissent, and a coordinated effort to sideline the will of the people. For emphasis, the human and property carnage still going on between Akaeze and Ishiagu, Amasiri and Oso Edda, etc are left overs of his inhuman administration.
The Real Opposition is the People
Contrary to his claims, the true opposition is not made up of politicians seeking power for its own sake. It is the millions of Nigerians—hungry, jobless, displaced, insecure and disillusioned—who can no longer accept the status quo. These are citizens living under a government that has normalized poverty, elevated corruption, and failed woefully in securing lives and property. Banditry, kidnapping, and killings continue unabated. To claim there should be “no opposition” to this state of affairs is not just misguided—it is dangerous.
It is a grave insult to the masses to reduce their genuine yearning for change to a mere political nuisance and rhetoric.
The people are the opposition. The people, tired of empty promises and recycled leadership, have found in Peter Obi a symbol of possibility, credibility, and people-centered governance. Obi’s followership is not a manufactured cult of personality—it is the organic consequence of principled leadership and proven integrity.
Ministerial Slots Are Not Metrics of Development
Umahi’s claim that President Tinubu is the “best President” the Southeast has had because he was appointed Minister of Works is a self-centered and empirically flawed argument.
Ministerial appointments are not favors; they are constitutional entitlements. And having a Southeast Minister of Works has not translated into the Southeast becoming a construction site of progress. Where are the jobs? Where are the roads? Where is the development? The event at which he dished out these flawed shots of arrogance was the flag-off of a road planned from Calabar through Ebonyi state, Benue, Nassarawa to Abuja; a project that has not even taken off and which of completed will touch on a part of Ebonyi state. It is not an infrastructural initiative designed to address the longstanding and widely acknowledged marginalization of the southeast since the civil war.
What actually matters is not the office one holds but the impact of that office on the people; and the people of the southeast are waiting for Umahi to launch a southeast infrastructural renewal to justify his wide boast.
Nigerians are poorer today than they were a year ago. Inflation is at record highs. Fuel prices have doubled. The naira is weaker than ever. No amount of ministerial appointments can hide the fact that this government is failing the people, and Umahi is a key player in that process.
History of Political Sycophancy and Betrayals
David Umahi has a long-standing reputation for opportunistic political behavior. Under Jonathan, he was a loyalist and ascribed his becoming a governor to him. Under Buhari, he became a cheerleader, matter of fact; he christened Buhari his father. Now under Tinubu, he claims this presidency is the best the Southeast has ever known. Is it a coincidence that every sitting President happens to be the best, once Umahi is within their circle? Is it a coincidence that he has lost all memory of the other past Presidents that he sang their praises to the high heavens while they held the sway?
Let’s not forget how Umahi as deputy governor revolted and turned on his then boss, Governor Martin Elechi, with a ferocity that shocked even seasoned politicians. He has a record of abandoning associates and promises when they no longer serve his ambition. Governor Nwifuru must beware—Umahi’s endorsement may be a poisoned chalice. His statement about being in Dubai during the APC convention could be the classic act of a man who lights the match and flees the scene.
President Tinubu must also be the wiser!
Silence is Not Acceptance
Umahi mistakes the silence of the Southeast and the Nigerian People for acquiescence. He is wrong. The people are not silent because they are satisfied. They are weary. But that weariness is fast giving way to resolve. They are organizing. They are educating. They are mobilizing. They are preparing for a new kind of politics; a Movement—one built on justice, accountability, character, capacity, credibility and equity.
It is called the Obidient Movement and soon Umahi and those of his ilk will choke on their words. They will retract their suffocating and arrogant display of Omnipotence.
Peter Obi represents that possibility.
A capable, credible and competent man who speaks the language of empathy, prudence, and hope. A man whose record in Anambra is a testament to frugality, transparency, and results. He is not just an Igbo project—he is a Nigerian project, backed by a coalition of Nigerians tired of the old guard that Umahi represents and protects.
Conclusion: A Self-Serving Stunt, Not a Southeast Consensus
David Umahi’s Afikpo declarations were not a reflection of the will of the Southeast. They were a heap of insults and a calculated attempt to inflate his packaged political value by portraying himself as the one who can “deliver” the region to Tinubu in 2027. But Nigerians—especially those in the Southeast—know better. They will not be traded like commodities in the political marketplace.
This is not 2015. This is not 2019. It is definitely not 2023 when they stole the people’s mandate. This is 2025! And the people are wide awake.
Let the likes of David Umahi continue to wine and dine in the corridors of power. Let them boast of being “lucky” in privatizing our commonwealth. But history will remember who stood with the people in their hour of need—and who stood in the way of their freedom.
2027 is for the people! Let those who have ears hear.
Rt. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie,FCA
Member, House of Representatives (2011-2019)/Ebonyi South Labour Party Senatorial Candidate (2023/2024).