Umahi: Soludo’s words have come to pass — Igbo alone can’t produce president

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, says he is not against the south-east’s decision to vote for Peter Obi during the presidential election.

Obi, who placed third overall in the election, won convincingly in all five south-east states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

Speaking on Monday at the Ebonyi International Airport, Umahi said although the Labour Party (LP) candidate did well in the election, the south-east needs to align with other geopolitical zones to win the presidency.

The governor said the comments of Charles Soludo, Anambra state governor, about the presidential ambition of Obi have manifested.

In a letter released in November 2022, Soludo said “there is no credible pathway for him near the first two positions”, adding that Obi knows he can’t become president.

Soludo came under intense criticism in the wake of the comments, especially from south-east groups and stakeholders.

“Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra harped on this fact and was crucified but his words have come to pass,” Umahi said.

“The wise thing for the Igbos to do is to tell themselves the truth that we alone cannot make ourselves president.

“We have to work with other tribes as the south west did with the north and have succeeded.

“We have to stop being parochial and clannish… as who could have believed that Obi was talking with me up till the last minute.

“He was also talking with other governors even those from the north.”

Bola Tinubu, standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win the presidential election.