Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has mentioned Peter Obi “can never be the best” presidential materials from the Southeast, arguing that the previous Anambra State governor didn’t adequately seek the advice of political leaders within the area earlier than his 2023 presidential bid.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News Anchor Ojy Okpe, Umahi mentioned his place was not pushed by private animosity in direction of Obi, however by his evaluation of the political management out there within the Southeast.
“Peter Obi is not the best of our finest in South East,” Umahi mentioned. “He’s not the best, he can never be the best.”
Umahi argued {that a} presidential candidate searching for to signify the political aspirations of the Southeast ought to first construct consensus amongst governors and different political leaders within the area.
“You cannot play politics in South East without consulting people like us,” he mentioned.
The former Ebonyi State governor mentioned that if he had been searching for the presidency himself, he would method the method in another way by consulting extensively with political stakeholders earlier than presenting himself as a candidate.
“If I were contesting, I would have consulted,” Umahi mentioned, sustaining {that a} presidential ambition carrying the expectations of a complete area couldn’t be pursued in isolation.
He argued that Obi ought to have consulted Southeast governors and different leaders earlier than rising because the area’s dominant presidential candidate within the 2023 election.
Umahi additionally challenged the suggestion that Obi ought to mechanically be thought to be the Southeast’s strongest candidate for the presidency due to his efficiency within the final election.
He mentioned the area had different certified political figures and argued that presidential politics required negotiation and engagement with different elements of the nation somewhat than relying principally on regional enthusiasm.
Umahi mentioned he had “nothing personal” towards Obi, stressing that completely different political circumstances required completely different qualities in a pacesetter.
The Works Minister additionally questioned arguments that the presidency ought to mechanically return to Anambra State if the chance arose for the Southeast to provide a president.
He famous that Nigeria’s first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe, got here from the world now constituting Anambra State and argued that different states within the Southeast must also be thought of.
Umahi recognized Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo as states that ought to have a possibility in any future dialogue about producing a president from the area.
His feedback got here as he defended the rising help for President Bola Tinubu amongst political leaders within the Southeast forward of the 2027 presidential election.
Umahi argued that the Southeast’s path to the presidency in the end relied on political negotiation and integration with the remainder of the nation somewhat than treating help for a specific candidate as a check of loyalty to the area.
He additionally rejected criticism of Southeast political figures supporting Tinubu somewhat than Obi, saying it was improper to painting them as betraying the area due to their political selections.
The minister maintained that the Southeast should negotiate and construct alliances throughout Nigeria if it desires to provide a president, insisting that no single politician must be handled because the area’s solely viable presidential choice.
Demola Ojo
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