Igbo women have strongly criticized the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for his claim that President Tinubu has treated the South East fairly.
This reaction also came as they openly disagreed with Nollywood star Kenneth Okonkwo, who recently stated that only a Northern candidate can defeat President Ahmed Tinubu in 2027—a viewpoint the women describe as “narrow-minded and suspicious”.
In a statement released on Monday, Umahi said the presidency would not be achievable for the South East in 2027 and advised Ndigbo to support President Tinubu in the upcoming elections.
However, Igbo women under the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) expressed strong disappointment with the positions taken by both Umahi and Okonkwo, dismissing their views as “empty defeatist rhetoric”. The group particularly condemned Umahi, accusing him of displaying “signs of slave mentality and invasive sycophantic malady”.
Lolo Nneka Chimezie, National President of IWA, issued a sharply worded challenge to the minister, urging him “to publish what President Tinubu has done specially for the South East to confirm the imaginary special love he has for Ndigbo.”
IWA further argued that the difference between President Tinubu and his predecessors remains unseen, especially regarding the ongoing marginalization of Igbo people in political appointments.
“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, at a time one state in the South West has three ministers?
“Can Umahi publish the names of people from the South East appointed heads of federal agencies and parastatals by Tinubu for us to know he has been fair to us more than other zones? If he loves Ndigbo as much as Umahi claims, why is our son Mazi Nnamdi Kanu still in detention for over two years since he came to power?
“If President Tinubu truly loves Ndigbo the way Umahi claims, why is the Enugu-Aba rail track still inactive? We hope Umahi is aware that every geopolitical zone now has a regional development commission.”
The IWA added that “although the marginalisation and political exclusion of Ndigbo did not begin with President Tinubu, he hasn’t done anything either to suggest he wants to stop or change the narrative.”
The group advised Umahi and “other Igbo sycophantic and self-centred politicians” to quickly learn from their counterparts in other regions, who prioritize regional interests above personal gain.
Igbo women lamented that instead of leveraging their influential positions to advance Igbo interests, many Igbo political elites prefer to “over-blow the trumpets of their pay masters to curry more favour even at the expense of the entire Igbo race.”
IWA urged Umahi to consider the fate of other Igbo political traitors like himself who previously echoed similar sentiments.
“Our advice for Umahi is to look back at politically correct Igbo elites like him who were used and dumped by the same people he is today shouting their praises.”
The group also implored the Igbo political elite “to stop their direct and indirect attacks on Peter Obi, who many Nigerians believe has the competence, readiness, and capacity to take the country out of the woods.
“We don’t know why Igbo political elites cannot join the rest of Nigerians in supporting one of their own, who the rest of the country, today, seems to be rooting for. The suffering masses of Nigeria, irrespective of their tribe and religion, believe in taking back their country, and they will disappoint Umahi and his likes.”
Regarding Okonkwo’s claim that only a Northern candidate can defeat Tinubu in 2027, IWA warned the actor-turned-politician not to damage his growing reputation and following with “unguarded and suspicious political rhetoric”.
The group expressed its respect for Okonkwo, calling him “another Igbo man after Nnamdi Kanu in terms of passion for the Igbo cause”, but said they were unsettled by his recent statement.
The statement read: “Igbo women have respect for Kenneth Okonkwo because he appears to be one of the finest intelligent Igbo gentlemen we have. He has been very diligent in identifying with the Igbo cause and defending Igbo interests. In fact, after Nnamdi Kanu, he is the next Igbo man who is very passionate about the Igbo cause.
“His passion for the Igbo cause has earned him respect among Ndigbo, especially Igbo women and youths, but he should watch his back so he does not lose the goodwill. He should not allow political sentiments to set him against the people.
“IWA considers his remarks that it’s only a Northern presidential candidate who can win against President Tinubu in 2027 as suspicious. It has left many of his admirers confused. For us, that statement has no bearing.
“Has he now joined the cabal that is pinning this country down? Is he now saying that ‘the Take Back Our Country’ that all Nigerians are clamouring for is not possible? We don’t want Kenneth Okonkwo, who was one of the strong voices against the system, to chicken out so easily.
“How come Kenneth Okonkwo’s myopic lens could not see that the hope of Nigerians is now on the South East to lead them out of this wilderness? At no time are Nigerians ready and willing to support a president of Igbo extraction than now. Kenneth Okonkwo should cast off his garment of pessimism and remain firm in the movement he once identified with!
“Kenneth Okonkwo should know that Nigerians have come to realise that Peter Obi’s candidacy is not about Igbo presidency but about fixing Nigeria and making it work for all. The clamour is beyond tribe and political party; it’s a clamour for competence, justice, and accountability.”
IWA urged the Igbo political elite “to stop destroying themselves”, stressing that “if Peter Obi was able to poll over 6 million votes in 2023 without structure, how much more now with the building momentum of the coalition movement?”
The group also advised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition not to overlook a Southerner for its presidential ticket, warning that the coalition risks losing Southern support if it fields a Northern candidate in 2027.
“The truth remains that no Northern presidential candidate will have the sympathy of Southern voters in 2027 because the presidency has to still reside in the South for eight years before it goes back to the North.
“If ADC fails to give its presidential ticket to a Southern candidate with national appeal like Peter Obi, the coalition will fail. The South has not completed its turn, and it would be an injustice for the North to think of hijacking power again in 2027. The whole South will cast off party and tribal sentiments and unite against such a move!”
