The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has raised alarm over what it described as a coordinated conspiracy against the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, alleging that certain political forces are bent on discrediting him because he is an Igbo man.
In a statement issued on Monday by its factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Chief Chinyereze Thompson Ohia, and made available to The Trumpet, Ohanaeze described Umahi as “a remarkable gift from President Bola Tinubu to the Igbo people,” stressing that his appointment as Minister of Works broke a 74-year-old barrier.
According to the group, Senator Umahi is the first Igbo person to occupy the Works Ministry portfolio since the era of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s government between 1951 and 1954. Ohanaeze said this historic milestone represents far more than political symbolism, but a clear validation of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusivity and competence in governance.
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The statement alleged that credible intelligence had exposed a grand plot to launch a campaign of blackmail and distraction against three key cabinet members of President Tinubu, with Senator Umahi marked as the main target. Ohanaeze insisted that such moves were “anti-democratic and doomed to fail,” adding that the Igbo nation and millions of Nigerians stand ready to resist any attempt to frustrate the Minister’s performance.
“It is regrettable that some enemies of progress seek to undermine Senator Umahi’s achievements, but their plans have already been compromised. The Nigerian people are not blind to his results,” the statement read. “In barely 25 months, Senator Umahi’s leadership at the Ministry of Works has earned national admiration, especially for his insistence on using advanced cement technology that guarantees more than 80 percent road durability across federal highways.”
Ohanaeze linked the attacks on Umahi to his disciplined character, Igbo heritage, and his loyalty to President Tinubu, noting that his professional integrity and adherence to due process have unsettled corrupt interests within and outside the system.
The group reaffirmed its unflinching support for President Tinubu’s administration, pledging to stand by him throughout his full term to 2031, while celebrating Umahi’s achievements as a “Grade A Minister of Works” who has restored public confidence in the ministry.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on Senator Umahi to remain focused and take solace in the support of both Ndigbo and millions of Nigerians who recognize his genuine efforts to deliver sustainable infrastructure across the country,” the statement concluded.
