Ohanaeze Ndigbo Defends Umahi, Rejects Ayiri Emami’s Call For Removal Over Niger Delta Claims

AYIRI EMAMI’S CALL FOR UMAHI’S REMOVAL IS RECKLESS AND CHILDISH — UMAHI DOES NOT HATE NIGER DELTA PEOPLE, HIS RECORD SPEAKS FOR HIM — OHANAEZE NDIGBO – Ohanaeze Ndigbo

13TH SEPTEMBER, 2026

The Global Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned, in unequivocal terms, the recent call by APC chieftain, Chief Ayiri Emami, for the removal of the Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, describing the demand as reckless, childish, undiplomatic and completely unsupported by the verifiable record of the Minister’s performance.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo considers the allegation that Senator Umahi harbours hatred against the people of the Niger Delta to be a grave distortion of reality and an unfortunate attempt to create unnecessary ethnic and political tension around a Minister whose responsibility is national in scope.

It is particularly disturbing, the organisation said, that an allegation of such magnitude could be made without presenting credible evidence demonstrating that Senator Umahi has discriminated against, abandoned or deliberately denied the people of the Niger Delta the benefits of federal road interventions.

Umahi’s Mandate Is National, Not Ethnic

Senator David Umahi was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to serve the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Minister of Works, not as a minister exclusively for the Southeast, the Niger Delta or any other geopolitical region.

His mandate is therefore national, and the proper assessment of his stewardship must be based on the scale of infrastructure delivered, the quality of project supervision, the speed of intervention, the rehabilitation of failed corridors and the overall transformation of Nigeria’s road infrastructure.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo therefore rejects any attempt to reduce the Minister’s performance to ethnic calculations.

The question should not be whether Senator Umahi belongs to one part of Nigeria or another. The question should be whether he has faithfully implemented the mandate entrusted to him by President Tinubu.

The answer, from Ohanaeze’s assessment, is an emphatic yes.

The Record Of The Ministry Of Works Speaks Louder Than Political Allegations

Since assuming office, Senator Umahi has remained visibly engaged with the enormous responsibility of rehabilitating, reconstructing and expanding critical road infrastructure across Nigeria.

Under the Renewed Hope administration, major road projects and strategic corridors have continued to receive government attention, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the East–West Road, the Badagry–Sokoto corridor and several other federal highways and bridges across the country.

These projects are not private enterprises belonging to Senator Umahi. They are Federal Government projects being executed under the authority and policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Consequently, attempts to portray the Minister as someone who has abandoned the Niger Delta are not only politically unfortunate but also unfair to the Federal Government whose infrastructure agenda he is implementing.

Historical Context: Niger Delta And Igbo Interests Have Never Been Strangers

History does not support the attempt to manufacture hostility between the Igbo and the Niger Delta.

The geographical, commercial and historical relationship between the peoples of the Southeast and the Niger Delta predates the contemporary political configuration of Nigeria.

For generations, the rivers, markets, ports and commercial centres of the Niger Delta have been connected to the economic activities of communities across the Southeast. Trade, migration, education, commerce and family relationships have created enduring bonds between the two regions.

The history of Nigeria also demonstrates that political disagreements between individuals should never be allowed to become permanent disputes between entire ethnic or regional populations.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo therefore considers it irresponsible for any political actor to attempt to portray Senator Umahi as an enemy of the Niger Delta merely because of disagreements concerning the execution or administration of federal infrastructure projects.

The Distance Between The Ministry Of Works And FCT Ministry Is Like Nigeria And Poland

Ohanaeze Ndigbo finds the suggestion that the functions of the Federal Ministry of Works should be transferred to the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, particularly troubling.

With due respect to Chief Wike, the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Capital Territory Administration are distinct institutions with separate statutory responsibilities, mandates and administrative structures.

The attempt to suggest otherwise, Ohanaeze said, demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of governmental administration.

Indeed, the institutional distance between the Federal Ministry of Works and the FCT Administration is, metaphorically speaking, like the distance between Nigeria and Poland.

The solution to disagreements over road projects is not to dismantle ministerial responsibilities or create an artificial rivalry between two senior members of the Federal Executive Council.

The appropriate solution is dialogue, evidence-based assessment, professional supervision and respect for institutional boundaries.

Ayiri Emami Should Stop Creating A False Umahi–Wike Rivalry

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is particularly concerned that Chief Ayiri Emami’s intervention could unnecessarily create a rift between two prominent Southern political figures serving within the same Federal Government.

Senator Umahi and Chief Wike are both senior members of President Tinubu’s administration.

They have different portfolios, different responsibilities and different areas of governmental jurisdiction.

There is therefore no justification for attempting to turn their respective responsibilities into an ethnic or political confrontation.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo will not stand by while individuals, through inflammatory public statements, attempt to manufacture hostility between prominent Southern political figures or between the wider Southeast and Niger Delta communities.

Political disagreements must never be converted into regional warfare.

Umahi Has No Record Of Hatred Against The Niger Delta

Ohanaeze Ndigbo challenges Chief Ayiri Emami, or anyone making similar allegations, to produce credible evidence showing that Senator Umahi has deliberately discriminated against the people of the Niger Delta.

Where is the evidence of such hatred?

Where is the evidence that the Minister deliberately abandoned Niger Delta roads?

Where is the evidence that he instructed contractors to neglect Niger Delta communities?

Where is the evidence that his ministry denied the region its legitimate federal infrastructure allocation?

Without such evidence, the allegation remains nothing more than political rhetoric.

Senator Umahi should be judged by projects, policy implementation, engineering decisions, administrative performance and measurable outcomes—not by politically motivated accusations.

Ohanaeze: Umahi Deserves Support, Not Political Persecution

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide hereby reaffirms its confidence in Senator David Nweze Umahi and commends his commitment to the responsibilities assigned to him by President Tinubu.

The organisation believes that the Minister should be allowed to complete the assignments entrusted to him without being distracted by politically motivated campaigns of calumny.

The Federal Ministry of Works is one of the most technically demanding ministries in the country. Nigeria’s road infrastructure deficit accumulated over decades and cannot be eliminated through political pronouncements or media attacks.

It requires continuity, funding, engineering expertise, supervision, contractor accountability and sustained presidential support.

A Warning Against Political Sabotage Of The 2027 Renewed Hope Project

At a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is preparing for the 2027 electoral contest, responsible political actors should be strengthening public confidence in the Federal Government rather than creating unnecessary internal controversies.

Chief Ayiri Emami’s demand for the removal of the Minister of Works, in Ohanaeze’s considered view, is capable of generating needless tension within the governing political structure.

The Renewed Hope administration requires unity of purpose.

The President needs ministers who can concentrate on delivering their mandates, while party stakeholders should complement government performance rather than create avoidable political distractions.

Nobody should mistake political noise for constructive criticism.

Constructive criticism is welcome. But reckless allegations, ethnic insinuations and calls for the dismantling of established governmental responsibilities cannot be allowed to undermine national development.

Ohanaeze Will Protect The Integrity Of Umahi’s Mandate

Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it was compelled to speak because Senator Umahi’s office and reputation should not be subjected to politically motivated attacks without evidence.

The organisation said it would continue to defend the legitimate interests of Ndigbo while equally supporting any national development initiative that benefits Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion or geopolitical location.

Senator Umahi remains committed to the rehabilitation and construction of roads across Nigeria, including the Niger Delta and the Southeast.

His responsibility is national, his mandate is constitutional and his loyalty is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Our Message Is Simple: Let The Projects Speak

Ohanaeze Ndigbo therefore calls on Chief Ayiri Emami to exercise restraint and civility.

If there are specific roads that require intervention, their locations, contractual status, funding position and engineering challenges should be presented for public scrutiny.

If there are genuine administrative concerns, they should be addressed through the appropriate governmental channels.

But allegations of hatred against an entire region should not be deployed as a political weapon without compelling evidence.

The Nigerian people deserve facts, not manufactured antagonism.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains confident that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s electoral fortunes will continue to improve across the Southeast and Niger Delta as Nigerians increasingly assess his administration through the tangible impact of its policies and infrastructure projects.

The organisation therefore urges the President to remain focused, resist unnecessary distractions and continue to support capable members of his administration who are delivering on their mandates.

Senator David Nweze Umahi should be allowed to work. His record should be debated with facts, not attacked with sentiments.

MAZI OKECHUKWU ISIGUZORO
Deputy President-General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide

PROF. CHIBUIKEYA ACHOKAWA
Acting Secretary-General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide