Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has faulted Minister of Works David Umahi over his declaration that “it is not yet the turn of the South-East” to produce Nigeria’s president in 2027.
Umahi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN on Sunday, urged South-East politicians to drop their presidential ambitions and rally behind President Bola Tinubu for re-election.
But reacting through his media aide and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, Obi said only the electorates, not political elites , have the power to decide who becomes president.
“Ordinarily, we shouldn’t be having talks about whether it should be a southern or northern candidate,” Obi said. “But since it has already been established for the unity of this country, the status quo should remain.”
Umahi had earlier said Tinubu should be allowed to complete his constitutionally permitted eight years in office before the South-East can aspire to the presidency.
“No, it is not our time yet,” Umahi said. “We, the 17 southern governors, met in Asaba before the 2023 election and agreed that the next president should come from the South. The crown came upon President Bola Tinubu. He has to finish his eight years, which belong to all of us — both South and North. After 2031, the South-East can vie.”
“Right now, President Bola Tinubu does not want to know where you come from. He is treating everybody very nicely,” Umahi said, urging South-East region to appreciate the President’s gesture rather than agitate for power.
