The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has strongly criticized the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and Nollywood actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, over their recent political statements concerning the 2027 presidential election and the treatment of the South East under the Tinubu administration.
Reacting to Umahi’s claim that President Bola Tinubu has been “very fair” to the South East and that the Igbo presidency is not feasible in 2027, IWA described the statement as “empty defeatist rhetoric” and accused the Minister of succumbing to “slave mentality and invasive sycophantic malady.”
In a sharply worded statement issued on Monday, the National President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, challenged Umahi to substantiate his claim by publishing evidence of Tinubu’s supposed special treatment of the region.
“May we remind Umahi that Tinubu has not shown that he is different from Buhari in sidelining Ndigbo from political appointments,” the statement said. “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 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.”
While acknowledging that the marginalisation of the Igbo did not start with President Tinubu, the group insisted that “he hasn’t done anything either to suggest he wants to stop or change the narrative.”
IWA accused Umahi and other South East politicians of prioritising personal interests over collective regional concerns. “Instead of using their privileged positions to advance the Igbo cause, the Igbo political elite derive pleasure in over-blowing the trumpets of their paymasters to curry more favour even at the expense of the entire Igbo race,” the group lamented.
The group also warned Umahi to reflect on the fate of other Igbo politicians who adopted similar political posturing in the past. “Our advice for Umahi is to look back at politically-correct Igbo elite like him who were used and dumped by the same people he is today shouting their praises.”
IWA further called on Igbo politicians to desist from attacking Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, who they argue has become a symbol of hope across the nation. “We don’t know why Igbo political elite cannot join the rest of Nigerians in supporting one of their own, who the rest of the country, today, seems to be rooting for,” they stated.
“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.”
Turning their focus to Kenneth Okonkwo, IWA expressed concern over the actor’s recent comment that only a Northern candidate can defeat Tinubu in 2027, describing the remark as “narrow-minded and suspicious.”
The group acknowledged Okonkwo’s previous commitment to Igbo causes, describing him as “one of the finest intelligent Igbo gentlemen we have,” but warned that such a statement could harm his growing political reputation.
“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 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.”
The group urged unity among the Igbo political class and warned against self-destructive tendencies. “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 argued.
On the emerging coalition ahead of 2027, IWA urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) not to make the mistake of fielding a Northern candidate, warning that such a move could cost the party southern support.
“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!”
