Umahi Challenges Obi: “Name One Ebonyi Indigene You Appointed as Anambra Governor”

Minister of Works David Umahi has challenged former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to identify an Ebonyi indigene whom he appointed to a significant position during Obi’s tenure as governor.

Umahi raised the question amid the increasingly public political exchange between the two South-East politicians ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. The minister has recently questioned Obi’s record in government and argued that political claims about development in the South-East should be tested against verifiable records rather than campaign rhetoric.

Umahi’s challenge

Umahi’s latest argument centres on what he described as reciprocity and opportunities given to people from other South-East states.

His challenge to Obi is essentially this: if Obi's administration benefited from the presence and contributions of people from other parts of the South-East, what evidence is there that Ebonyi indigenes were similarly given appointments or opportunities within the Anambra State Government?

The question has added another dimension to the ongoing political debate between the two men, who both previously served as governors in the South-East.

Umahi served as governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, while Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2013. Umahi was also deputy governor of Ebonyi before becoming governor.

The broader South-East argument

The exchange comes as political discussions intensify over representation, development and political relationships among the five South-East states.

Umahi has repeatedly called for Nigerians to compare the records of different administrations. In a recent statement, he challenged Obi and other political figures to explain what they achieved for the South-East and what they would do differently if given another opportunity to govern.

Obi's tenure in Anambra has also remained a major part of discussions about his political record. Contemporary reporting from his time in office documented his administration's policies and appointments, while subsequent political debates have produced competing assessments of his achievements.

Importantly, Umahi's question is a political challenge, not by itself proof that Obi appointed no Ebonyi indigenes. Establishing that claim conclusively would require a complete record of appointments made by the Anambra State Government during Obi's tenure.

The political context

The exchange is taking place against the backdrop of the 2027 presidential contest, with Obi positioning himself as a presidential contender and Umahi serving in President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Umahi has openly supported Tinubu's continuation in office and has argued that the Federal Government's infrastructure projects should be considered when assessing its record in the South-East.

The minister has also previously acknowledged that neither he nor Obi is perfect, saying that political figures should be assessed through their records rather than treated as infallible.

The latest challenge therefore shifts the argument from personalities to a specific question of appointments, inclusion and governance records: What positions did each administration give to people from outside its home state, and what does the documented record show?

Factful24 takeaway: Umahi's challenge places the issue of cross-state representation at the centre of his latest criticism of Obi. Whether the claim stands up to scrutiny depends on the historical appointment records of the Anambra State Government during Obi's tenure.

Source: https://www.thepointersnewsonline.com/umahi-challenges-obi-show-nigerians-what-you-did-for-south-east