2027: There's no presidential candidate in South-East – Umahi

He dismissed the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, from the zone, as “nobody”.

Umahi stated Obi is just not higher than some distinguished individuals in Ebonyi State together with himself, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Minister of Education, Senator Sam Egwu and former Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Elias Mbam. He urged the individuals of the state and South-East to ship President Bola Tinubu within the 2027 basic election to have the ability to get the place when it’s the flip of the zone.

Umahi acknowledged this in Abakaliki, the state capital, throughout a city corridor assembly powered by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitization of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC.

“I want to tell our religious leaders and Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, do not stay on the fence. I know when I was struggling to be governor, CAN took a decision and said justice must prevail. CAN don’t keep quiet, let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom.

“There isn’t any means an Igbo man after staying for 60 years, will need to be President for 4 years. There is no person that may settle for that. The North has not accepted to be President for 4 years.

“Somebody was telling me that Atiku’s son bought buses and donated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and said this is personal donation.

“Igbo man wants knowledge, not sentiments. Igbo man shouldn’t permit individuals to be dishing hate speeches on social media on their behalf. Today, our individuals in Commerce, we clear our items with ease. Today our roads are being revived within the path of financial actions.

“Today, we can boldly say we have been integrated. The last time there was choosing of service chiefs, it was Naval Chief. This time, it is Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Works, other ministers, SSAs, what else? When I say South-East have been fully integrated and included, I mean it.

“My mouth won’t shut up as a result of I’m telling our individuals for a reference for tomorrow. We are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his remaining 4 years in order that the South-East would have strategically supported one other area. So that when it’s our flip, we won’t get this factor by hate speeches, they won’t give to us by sentiments. It is strategic. If leaders of South East say this, you’ll now insult them.

“You insult anybody that is not supporting Peter Obi. Anybody that is not supporting Peter Obi, is a saboteur, you insult the person. Who is Peter Obi better than, who is here better than? Is he better than Sam Egwu? Is he better than Elias Mbam? Is he better than the Lion of South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius? Who is here better than?

“So, I do not need us to be deceiving ourselves. We have no presidential candidate in South-East. We have individuals which might be vying. Ebonyi has a proper to select. Traditional fathers, don’t remain on the fence, spiritual leaders, don’t remain on the fence. Our individuals within the North don’t, our individuals within the South-West, they don’t. Guide our individuals, allow them to know that”, the minister stated.

Umahi, a former Governor of Ebonyi State, said he will deliver 1.3 million votes for the President and Governor Francis Nwifuru in next year’s general election.

He boasted that he can’t sit down and watch another party produce a governor in the state during the general election, describing those who think they can defeat Nwifuru as jokers.

“We have 1.8 million registered voters in Ebonyi State. Let me inform you, if we’re not donating 1.3 million votes for the president, for the governor, we’re doing ourselves a disservice”, he stated.