₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUW8HDcKaoA

The Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, has come under blistering condemnation by diaspora Igbo groups for claiming that President Bola Tinubu has put an end to the perceived marginalisation of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

Umahi reportedly urged the Igbo to forget Biafra agitation, as, according to him, the federal government had addressed all the challenges of Ndigbo.

But the diaspora groups -the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self Determination, and the Rising Sun, in a joint statement at the weekend, countered the Works Minister on his “unguarded statement,” saying that he “doesn’t have the mandate to speak for Ndigbo.

“He (Umahi) should not allocate to himself the powers he does not have. Since he said he does not believe in Biafra, Biafrans also do not believe in traitors like him.

“Nobody is coercing him to join the struggles, but he lacks the powers to either speak for the people or stop the movement,” the groups said in the statement signed by AVID President, Dr Sylvester Onyia; Ben Nwankwo for Ambassadors for Self Determination; and Maxwell Dede, for the Rising Sun.

The groups noted that they have seen “serial betrayers” of the Igbo’s cause who are now living in regret after being used and dumped by their slave masters, adding that Umahi might not be any different.

They reminded the public that the former governor of Ebonyi State “does not speak for Alaigbo. He does not speak for Biafraland. He speaks only for himself — and not even for everyone in Ebonyi State.”

The groups regarded it as “an insult on the sensibility of Ndigbo for Umahi to claim that Ndigbo are no longer marginalised,” and challenged him to substantiate his claims with concrete evidence.

They queried the minister to point out what “the federal government or Tinubu’s government (has) done for Alaigbo since Tinubu became the president,” adding that Umahi should show the world what Ndigbo have gained under Tinubu’s administration.

“Why is the Umuahia -Enugu railway still moribund when Lagos – Kano and Katsina – Niger Republic tracks are functional? Why does the Southeast still have only five ministers, with two of them junior ministers, while one state in the Southwest has four ministers?

“Is Umahi not aware that there’s no seaport in the Southeast while our people are the highest importers in the country? Do we have any functional cargo airport in Igbo land? Do we have major federal industries or maritime projects?” they asked.

The Igbo diaspora groups said that Umahi could not claim ignorance that “other regions in Nigeria have these things (infrastructure), Alaigbo does not.

“So, when someone like Umahi tries to speak for Ndigbo, we must ask: what exactly is he defending?”

The groups further threw more posers at Umahi, asking him to provide answers to the questions so that his claims of no more Igbo marginalisation could be meaningful.

“Why is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu jailed for life when the real terrorists and mass murderers are freely roaming around and treated with levity?

“Kanu was jailed with the support of Britain and a few Nigerian politicians like Umahi, who have chosen personal comfort over justice.

“That is why the people are angry. That is why the people feel betrayed. Anyone who helps to keep Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in detention is working against the Igbo people. Umahi should realise that saboteurs will always be on the wrong side of history,” they said.

The Igbo diaspora groups recalled that during the persecution of the Jews in Europe, some Jews denied being Jews to protect themselves, adding that such denials “did not stop the suffering. And it did not stop the creation of Israel in 1948.

“So, when Umahi denies Biafra today, it is not new. Betrayal by local people has happened before. It has never stopped history,” the statement said.

Alluding to the agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra has come to stay and cannot be diminished by Igbo politicians striving to be politically correct, the groups noted that “Biafra is Bigger than Umahi.”

“The Biafra struggle is not about Umahi. It is not about appointments. It is not about pleasing Abuja. It is about justice, dignity, and self-respect. People may try to sabotage it. They will fail,” they said.

The groups called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, saying that: “It is a simple and clear demand,” which must be met if the federal authorities are sincere about giving Ndigbo a true sense of belonging.

“Anything else is deception. Umahi should not give us reason to suspect he is one of those frustrating Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release,” the groups said.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/12/22/diaspora-groups-fault-umahis-claim-on-igbo-no-longer-marginalised/

The groups called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, saying that: “It is a simple and clear demand,” which must be met if the federal authorities are sincere about giving Ndigbo a true sense of belonging.

BlessedGift:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUW8HDcKaoA

The Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, has come under blistering condemnation by diaspora Igbo groups for claiming that President Bola Tinubu has put an end to the perceived marginalisation of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

Umahi reportedly urged the Igbo to forget Biafra agitation, as, according to him, the federal government had addressed all the challenges of Ndigbo.

But the diaspora groups -the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self Determination, and the Rising Sun, in a joint statement at the weekend, countered the Works Minister on his “unguarded statement,” saying that he “doesn’t have the mandate to speak for Ndigbo.

“He (Umahi) should not allocate to himself the powers he does not have. Since he said he does not believe in Biafra, Biafrans also do not believe in traitors like him.

“Nobody is coercing him to join the struggles, but he lacks the powers to either speak for the people or stop the movement,” the groups said in the statement signed by AVID President, Dr Sylvester Onyia; Ben Nwankwo for Ambassadors for Self Determination; and Maxwell Dede, for the Rising Sun.

The groups noted that they have seen “serial betrayers” of the Igbo’s cause who are now living in regret after being used and dumped by their slave masters, adding that Umahi might not be any different.

They reminded the public that the former governor of Ebonyi State “does not speak for Alaigbo. He does not speak for Biafraland. He speaks only for himself — and not even for everyone in Ebonyi State.”

The groups regarded it as “an insult on the sensibility of Ndigbo for Umahi to claim that Ndigbo are no longer marginalised,” and challenged him to substantiate his claims with concrete evidence.

They queried the minister to point out what “the federal government or Tinubu’s government (has) done for Alaigbo since Tinubu became the president,” adding that Umahi should show the world what Ndigbo have gained under Tinubu’s administration.

“Why is the Umuahia -Enugu railway still moribund when Lagos – Kano and Katsina – Niger Republic tracks are functional? Why does the Southeast still have only five ministers, with two of them junior ministers, while one state in the Southwest has four ministers?

“Is Umahi not aware that there’s no seaport in the Southeast while our people are the highest importers in the country? Do we have any functional cargo airport in Igbo land? Do we have major federal industries or maritime projects?” they asked.

The Igbo diaspora groups said that Umahi could not claim ignorance that “other regions in Nigeria have these things (infrastructure), Alaigbo does not.

“So, when someone like Umahi tries to speak for Ndigbo, we must ask: what exactly is he defending?”

The groups further threw more posers at Umahi, asking him to provide answers to the questions so that his claims of no more Igbo marginalisation could be meaningful.

“Why is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu jailed for life when the real terrorists and mass murderers are freely roaming around and treated with levity?

“Kanu was jailed with the support of Britain and a few Nigerian politicians like Umahi, who have chosen personal comfort over justice.

“That is why the people are angry. That is why the people feel betrayed. Anyone who helps to keep Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in detention is working against the Igbo people. Umahi should realise that saboteurs will always be on the wrong side of history,” they said.

The Igbo diaspora groups recalled that during the persecution of the Jews in Europe, some Jews denied being Jews to protect themselves, adding that such denials “did not stop the suffering. And it did not stop the creation of Israel in 1948.

“So, when Umahi denies Biafra today, it is not new. Betrayal by local people has happened before. It has never stopped history,” the statement said.

Alluding to the agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra has come to stay and cannot be diminished by Igbo politicians striving to be politically correct, the groups noted that “Biafra is Bigger than Umahi.”

“The Biafra struggle is not about Umahi. It is not about appointments. It is not about pleasing Abuja. It is about justice, dignity, and self-respect. People may try to sabotage it. They will fail,” they said.

The groups called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, saying that: “It is a simple and clear demand,” which must be met if the federal authorities are sincere about giving Ndigbo a true sense of belonging.

“Anything else is deception. Umahi should not give us reason to suspect he is one of those frustrating Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release,” the groups said.

Umahi should have ignored them.

Umahi should be careful with his rhetorics.. Ndo igbo my eastern brodas have not reali been integrated in project Nigeria .. let's kiss the truth

Umahi no even get proper response to the Biafra agitation. Sha, he is just managing the situation as best as he can.

David Umahi has been and shall continue to be an over-fed kid.

When people like us say SW president will not see 10k vote in SE.They think I am joking.
Go to any town in SE presently beside state capital and erect Tinubu poster.If the poster stands for 24 hours then u know I am a joker.
Even the apc governors and umehi can not go to any gathering outside state capital and say vote for SW president or go to any major market in SE and say vote SW president. If he didn't go with serious security, walahi he go collect

Toh

The diaspora Igbo groups are also angry with Umahi's position.

The truth is, there are no infrastructures in the SE compared to what other regions have.

It's a bitter truth but it must be swallowed

Streetinvestor2:
When people like us say SW president will not see 10k vote in SE.They think I am joking.
Go to any town in SE presently beside state capital and erect Tinubu poster.If the poster stands for 24 hours then u know I am a joker.
Even the apc governors and umehi can not go to any gathering outside state capital and say vote for SW president or go to any major market in SE and say vote SW president. If he didn't go with serious security, walahi he go collect

Sorry sir. Where are the votes coming from?

In spite of SE having low population and small land mass, most of the geopolitical zone is largely agrarian and unoccupied.

Forget it, you don’t even have the numbers. In democracy, it is the majority like SW and NW then probably NC and SS that will have their say and way. Minority votes are like what in Chemistry is called 'spectator species '. They will be there but don't determine the outcome


If you are truly from the SE and still think you have the vote then you are not in tune with reality sir. All the authentic data from JAMB, NIN, INEC, Internet Usage, VAT contributions and even satellite imagery of SE all point to low population and votes.

Anyone from SW and NW can conveniently become Nigerian elected President without significant votes from such a zone like SE with low population and low votes.

Numbers don't have emotions and don't lie.

Look at the satellite images of small SE with mostly unoccupied green forests below.

So, the diaspora is also involved in this matter?

FreeStuffsNG:
Sorry sir. Where are the votes coming from?

In spite of SE having low population and small land mass, most of the geopolitical zone is largely agrarian and unoccupied.

Forget it, you don’t even have the numbers. In democracy, it is the majority like SW and NW then probably NC and SS that will have their say and way. Minority votes are like what in Chemistry is called 'spectator species '. They will be there but don't determine the outcome


If you are truly from the SE and still think you have the vote then you are not in tune with reality sir. All the authentic data from JAMB, NIN, INEC, Internet Usage, VAT contributions and even satellite imagery of SE all point to low population and votes.

Anyone from SW and NW can conveniently become Nigerian elected President without significant votes from such a zone like SE with low population and low votes.

Numbers don't have emotions and don't lie.

Look at the satellite images of small SE with mostly unoccupied green forests below.

I like people like u but don't disappointe me so I don't see you as coward if you don't respond
Pls give us the total number of vote SW president got in 2023 elections regarding this question
1. The number of votes he go in SW and SE added together.
2. Then give us the total number of votes obi got in SE and SW in 2023
3..Then go further to tell us the total number of votes Buhari brought from North. Then tell us the number of votes he got from SW.

You Google map is of no use here.
I am waiting for the numbers

They are pushing umahi against igbos so that when they dump him he won't have a leg to stand on... They did it to rochas

Why can't umahi have sense

O pari

mrvitalis:
They are pushing umahi against igbos so that when they dump him he won't have a leg to stand on... They did it to rochas

Why can't umahi have sense

They must have promised him VP in the future because he cannot be president. He now think he can sell his people. He is dealing with a tribe called chameleon for a reason.

mrvitalis:
They are pushing umahi against igbos so that when they dump him he won't have a leg to stand on... They did it to rochas

Why can't umahi have sense

Please don't body shame HE Rochas. You know that it was not politics that gave him a bad leg sir.
Umahi has always maintained that his Ebonyi people are looked down upon in his zone and they have never had it so good. Please respect his opinion and don't insult him.

Streetinvestor2:
I like people like u but don't disappointe me so I don't see you as coward if you don't respond

Even with inflated 100%SE votes, Mr Obi still lule pii.

My counsel to you is that SE doesn't have the votes and bragging rights in democracy because of the low votes.

You really don't understand how politics works especially when you don’t have the numbers.
It is like a political suicide to attempt to work against a zone like SW with a majority population, demographic, economic data and huge land mass.

David Umahi is a principled man. The fact that the diaspora groups are attacking him shows he is on the right path.

They are the real saboteurs.

Streetinvestor2:
When people like us say SW president will not see 10k vote in SE.They think I am joking.
Go to any town in SE presently beside state capital and erect Tinubu poster.If the poster stands for 24 hours then u know I am a joker.
Even the apc governors and umehi can not go to any gathering outside state capital and say vote for SW president or go to any major market in SE and say vote SW president. If he didn't go with serious security, walahi he go collect

The last three presidential elections have shown that SE are completely insignificant in national politics

I have never understood how a region that claims they want to break away have never ONCE mentioned it on the floor of the senate or house of Rep!
Just insults from non state actors and grandstanding!

Umahi is a confirmed mad man

FreeStuffsNG:
Please don't body shame HE Rochas. You know that it was not politics that gave him a bad leg sir.
Umahi has always maintained that his Ebonyi people are looked down upon in his zone and they have never had it so good. Please respect his opinion and don't insult him.


Even with inflated 100%SE votes, Mr Obi still lule pii.

My counsel to you is that SE doesn't have the votes and bragging rights in democracy because of the low votes.

You really don't understand how politics works especially when you don’t have the numbers.
It is like a political suicide to attempt to work against a zone like SW with a majority population, demographic, economic data and huge land mass.

You have proven what people from that region are always. They don't disappoint in showing cowardice.
Let me help you with thr figures to show you votes are worthless and didn't make anyone a president
Obi got total votes in SE and SW because of Igbo voting strength of 2.82 million
Tinubu got total votes of 2.67 votes from SW and SE
Buhari came with 12.2 million votes while SW votes gave just 2.4 million votes
The votes from your region is worthless even as you have 6 states and SE has just 5 statee
Don't ever quote me again. You have nothing to offer

Streetinvestor2:
You have proven what people from that region are always. They don't disappoint in showing cowardice.
Let me help you with thr figures to show you votes are worthless and didn't make anyone a president
Obi got total votes in SE and SW because of Igbo voting strength of 2.82 million
Tinubu got total votes of 2.67 votes from SW and SE
Buhari came with 12.2 million votes while SW votes gave just 2.4 million votes
The votes from your region is worthless even as you have 6 states and SE has just 5 statee
Don't ever quote me again. You have nothing to offer

Smh.

This is why you keep misreading the political reality on ground. It's so obvious that you are not cut for politics

No politician will have your kind of support that is based on raw intemperate emotions plus false understanding of the political reality and not lose an election woefully.

SE doesn't have the numbers to claim a bragging rights. Based on voting strength, only SW and NW have the bragging rights. NC and SS will even come before SE.

FreeStuffsNG:
Smh.

This is why you keep misreading the political reality on ground. It's so obvious that you are not cut for politics

No politician will have your kind of support that is based on raw intemperate emotions plus false understanding of the political reality and not lose an election woefully.

SE doesn't have the numbers to claim a bragging rights. Based on voting strength, only SW and NW have the bragging rights. NC and SS will even come before SE.

coming from motor park gist that cannot be backed with numbers like I did to Shame u and your likes.SW votes is worthless with numbers to show it.go and verify .
Is the SW votes more than 2.5 million in 2023 and 2.4 million for Buhari. Any one can be president without the useless votes. All he needs is north, SS and SE to be president.
Let the 2.5 million from SW return SW president in 2027 let us see
SE and igbo votes whr more valuable than useless votes from your region even with just 5 states.This is wrong information u feed illiterate transport union workers in your region

Diaspora groups are not in Nigeria to make life better for their people. They should continue to enjoy their lives abroad.

David Umahi is a good man. I wish him all the best.

mrvitalis:
They are pushing umahi against igbos so that when they dump him he won't have a leg to stand on... They did it to rochas

Why can't umahi have sense

People like him are shameless.

They did it to Rochas, Amaechi, Obiano, Odili, Onu, Ngige, Uzor Kalu, etc. It will reach Umahi, Soludo, Mba, etc.

Elusive001:
People like him are shameless.

They did it to Rochas, Amaechi, Obiano, Odili, Onu, Ngige, Uzor Kalu, etc. It will reach Umahi, Soludo, Mba, etc.

In politics always maintain your local support.. Support what they support or at most keep quiet .. They are your Guarantee and barging chip

None of them is closer to Tinubu than Otti but Otti knows what his people want and playing both parties well