The Southeast caucus leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) house of Assembly members & member Representing Onitsha South II Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego, has accused the Minister of Works, Mr. Dave Umahi, of attempting to sow discord among Igbo states, particularly between Anambra and Ebonyi, in a video now circulating widely on social media.
Reacting to the video, the lawmaker said the minister’s claims were rooted in ignorance and falsehood, and were designed to set the peace-loving people of Ebonyi State against the rest of Igboland.
Umennajiego recalled that Ndi Igbo have long stood together irrespective of state of origin. He cited Dr. Akanu Ibiam, who served as Governor of the Eastern Region during the era of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, an Ebonyi indigene who governed old Abia State before Ebonyi was created, and later served as a minister under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also pointed to Senator Pius Anyim Pius of Ebonyi State, who succeeded the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, an Anambra indigene, as Senate President, with the backing of the entire Igbo nation. He added that Hon. Igariwey Enwo, from Ebonyi, has served as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Umahi was governor of Ebonyi State for eight years, having earlier served as deputy governor, and is now a minister occupying a slot meant for an Igbo man. For him to now claim that Ebonyi people are treated as second-class citizens is unfounded,” the lawmaker said.
Umennajiego said the present reality contradicts the minister’s claims. According to him, intermarriage between Ebonyi people and indigenes of other Igbo states is commonplace, while many Ebonyi indigenes have been trained under the apprenticeship system in Onitsha Main Market, settled by their masters, and now run successful businesses there without hindrance or discrimination.
He added that in Anambra State’s real estate sector, people from Ebonyi State are among the dominant players.
The lawmaker also faulted the minister’s question about what Mr. Peter Obi did for Ebonyi State as governor of Anambra State. “Obi was governor of Anambra, not Ebonyi. Umahi himself was governor of Ebonyi for eight years. How many Ebonyi people did he lift out of poverty?” he asked.
He further questioned the minister’s decision to have his son emerge as a local government chairman while serving as a federal minister, arguing that many other qualified Ebonyi indigenes could have been considered. He described as unconvincing the minister’s claim that the incumbent governor nominated his son.
Umennajiego said Umahi was free to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and pursue his own political ambitions, but must not stoke division or hatred among Igbo states to do so.
Referring to rumours that the minister is positioning himself for the vice presidency in 2031, he asked: “Assuming you got such an opportunity, will the rest of the Igbo states vote against you? Why create such unnecessary division?”
The lawmaker stressed that the vice presidency is no longer the aspiration of the Igbo, who remain the only major ethnic group yet to produce a President of Nigeria. “Are you saying we are not qualified, or that the Southeast has no capable people to lead this country?” he asked.
He said Mr. Peter Obi presents the region’s brightest chance of producing the next President, and that Ndi Igbo would not trade it for an uncertain vice presidential promise.
Umennajiego urged Igbo people to remain united and not be misled by individuals pursuing personal political interests.
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