Igbo group replies Umahi over comments on Obi, urges issue-based 2027 campaign

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation (IHIF) has called on political leaders to focus on records and policy ahead of 2027, after remarks by Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, dismissing the presidential prospects of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi.

In a statement released yesterday, the Foundation’s National Coordinator, Chinedu Nsofor, faulted Umahi’s comment that Obi “cannot even face me, let alone President Bola Tinubu,” and his questioning of Obi’s political relevance.

“While we respect Senator Umahi’s constitutional right to express his political opinions, we believe that democracy flourishes when public discourse is anchored on facts, verifiable records, ideas and measurable performance, rather than personal attacks,” the Foundation said.

The group argued that the 2027 election should be decided by voters based on competence and solutions to Nigeria’s current challenges, not by political rhetoric.

It highlighted Obi’s eight years as governor of Anambra, pointing to what it described as prudent financial management, transparency in public expenditure, investment in education and healthcare, and infrastructure development.

The Foundation acknowledged that Anambra still carried some debt at the end of Obi’s tenure, but added that independent assessments show the state’s debt profile remained comparatively modest while the government maintained reserves and met financial commitments.

The Foundation also noted Obi’s background as a businessman before politics, saying it shaped his advocacy for a productive economy built on agriculture, manufacturing, SMEs, technology, and export-led growth.

In the current administration, the group referenced President Tinubu’s policies, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate liberalisation, and increased borrowing. It said the policies have sparked national debate, with supporters calling them necessary reforms and critics citing inflation, rising debt and cost of living pressures.

“Nigeria, today, faces enormous challenges, including inflation, unemployment, insecurity, rising public debt, declining purchasing power, currency instability, industrial underdevelopment, and widespread poverty,” the statement read. These realities require sober national conversations focused on solutions rather than personalities.”

The Foundation reiterated its commitment to equity and fairness across geopolitical zones, saying calls for equal opportunity should not be misconstrued as hostility to other regions. It urged Umahi and other political leaders to elevate political discourse, and asked all presidential hopefuls, including Tinubu and Obi to present their records, achievements, and practical plans to Nigerians.

“No minister, governor, political party, or influential individual determines the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That sacred responsibility belongs exclusively to Nigerians exercising their democratic right at the ballot box,” the Foundation stated.

The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation said it remains committed to promoting responsible leadership, constitutional democracy, national unity, and issue-based politics ahead of 2027.