The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged the Southeast region to exercise patience in its quest for Nigeria’s presidency, declaring that it is not yet the region’s turn.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, Umahi emphasized the importance of political fairness and continuity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the 17 southern governors had unanimously agreed before the 2023 polls that power should shift to the South—regardless of political affiliation.
“No, it is not our time; it is not the time of the Southeast yet. We, the 17 Southern governors, met in Asaba before 2023 and agreed that the next president should come from the South,” Umahi said.
“All of us tried, but the crown came upon President Bola Tinubu. He is from the South, and so it is wrong for the Southeast to say it’s their turn. Tinubu must complete his eight years, which represents the entire South.”
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, noted that after President Tinubu’s tenure ends in 2031, the Southeast can legitimately seek the nation’s top seat, having never produced a president since independence.
While acknowledging the region’s historical marginalisation, Umahi admitted that the challenge made it difficult for some Southeast governors to secure widespread support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections.
He added that there are many “eminently qualified and better” leaders from the region who can step forward at the right time.
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