By Kenneth Onyekwere
The Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi State has rejected what it described as divisive remarks by Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi concerning former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and the people of Anambra State.
Key Highlights
- Ebonyi Labour Party says Peter Obi is a brother, not an enemy.
- The party urged South-East leaders and residents to protect regional ties.
- It highlighted social, cultural and economic links between Ebonyi and Anambra.
- The party called on Umahi to focus on critical infrastructure in the South-East.
- It raised concerns about the reported impact of the Vanco Flyover project in Abakaliki.
- The party said political differences should not create hostility among citizens.
In a statement signed by its 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Splendour Oko Eze; candidate for Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh; Ebonyi South Senatorial candidate, Chief Henry Udeh; and Ebonyi North Senatorial candidate, Chief Ogbodo Nwede Mitchell Nwabueze Michael, the party urged Ndigbo to resist political rhetoric it said could undermine relationships across the South-East.
“Peter Obi remains our brother, not our enemy,” the Ebonyi LP said, while urging political leaders and residents to protect the longstanding social, cultural and economic ties among people of the region.
The party said it was concerned about what it regarded as attempts to portray Anambra people as adversaries of Ebonyians. It said the two states had enjoyed decades of social, cultural and commercial interaction.
“We state categorically that Anambra people do not treat Ebonyi people as second-class citizens,” the statement said, describing the relationship between Ndi Anambra and Ndi Ebonyi as founded on “decades of brotherhood, shared culture, commerce, and mutual respect.”
The party cited the contributions of Anambra businessmen and philanthropists, including Chief Arthur Eze, Chief Cletus Ibeto and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, to Ebonyi State’s economic development. It said these relationships demonstrated the states’ economic and social interdependence.
“Peter Obi remains our brother, not our enemy,” the party declared, urging Ebonyians not to be swayed by what it described as divisive rhetoric for political advantage.
LP addresses Abakaliki Street controversy
The Labour Party said every Nigerian has a constitutional right to support and vote for a candidate of their choice, and argued that political differences should not become a basis for hostility among citizens or fellow Igbo people.
The statement comes amid public exchanges between Umahi and Obi over governance, infrastructure and the political direction of the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections. Umahi has publicly challenged Obi to debate their records as former governors, while Obi has questioned the basis for such a debate outside a presidential contest.
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The Ebonyi LP also addressed controversy surrounding the renaming or removal of Abakaliki Street in Anambra State. It said Peter Obi should not be blamed for a decision taken by a subsequent administration and argued that any grievance should be directed to the government responsible.
The party described attempts to link the matter to Obi as political and said they should not be allowed to undermine relations between Ebonyi and Anambra.
Party urges focus on infrastructure and regional ties
On zoning, the Labour Party said the debate should not overshadow what it described as more pressing concerns, including governance, poverty reduction, economic empowerment and infrastructure development in Ebonyi State.
The party called on Umahi, in his capacity as Minister of Works, to focus on delivering and maintaining critical infrastructure in the South-East. It identified the Enugu-Abakaliki Federal Highway and Enugu-Onitsha Expressway as major economic corridors requiring attention.
The Ebonyi LP also criticised the Vanco Flyover project in Abakaliki, alleging that construction had destroyed businesses, displaced traders and caused loss of livelihoods. The party questioned the project’s wider socio-economic consequences and said affected residents continued to grapple with the impact.
The party’s claims about the project’s alleged political motivation were presented in its statement as questions and allegations, not as established findings.
“Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi are one family united by a common heritage and destiny. We must not allow political interests to divide us,” the statement said.
The Labour Party urged political actors across the South-East to place regional solidarity and good governance above partisan interests. It also called on Ndigbo at home and in the diaspora to preserve the region’s commercial, cultural and interpersonal ties and focus on issues affecting people’s welfare and living conditions.
The statement was issued on behalf of the Ebonyi State Labour Party by the four signatories. For more updates, follow us on X.
