Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned the call by APC chieftain, Chief Ayiri Emami, for the removal of Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, describing the demand as “reckless,” “childish” and unsupported by evidence.
In a statement dated September 13, 2026, the group said allegations that Umahi harbours hatred for the people of the Niger Delta amounted to a distortion of reality and could unnecessarily heighten ethnic and political tensions.
Ohanaeze challenged Emami and others making the allegation to provide evidence that Umahi had deliberately discriminated against Niger Delta communities or denied the region federal infrastructure projects.
The group stressed that Umahi was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Works for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to serve any particular geopolitical region.
According to Ohanaeze, the minister’s performance should instead be assessed based on infrastructure delivery, project supervision, rehabilitation of roads and the overall development of Nigeria’s road network.
“His mandate is therefore national,” the group said, insisting that Umahi’s stewardship should not be reduced to ethnic calculations.
Ohanaeze cited major projects and strategic corridors receiving attention under the Tinubu administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, East-West Road and Badagry-Sokoto corridor.
The group argued that the projects were Federal Government initiatives being implemented under the authority and policy direction of President Tinubu.
Ohanaeze also rejected suggestions that the responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Works should be transferred to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
It noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Capital Territory Administration were separate institutions with distinct statutory responsibilities and administrative structures.
The group described the suggestion as a misunderstanding of governmental administration, adding that the institutional distance between the two ministries was, metaphorically, “like the distance between Nigeria and Poland.”
Ohanaeze warned against attempts to create an artificial rivalry between Umahi and Wike, who are both serving in President Tinubu’s administration.
According to the group, political disagreements between individuals should not be allowed to become ethnic or regional conflicts.
Ohanaeze Challenges Emami to Produce Evidence
The organisation specifically challenged Emami to provide evidence supporting the allegation that Umahi had deliberately neglected the Niger Delta.
It asked where the evidence was that Umahi had abandoned Niger Delta roads, instructed contractors to neglect communities or denied the region its legitimate federal infrastructure allocation.
“Without such evidence, the allegation remains nothing more than political rhetoric,” Ohanaeze said.
The group maintained that Umahi should be judged based on projects, policy implementation, engineering decisions, administrative performance and measurable outcomes.
Group Urges Support for Umahi
Ohanaeze reaffirmed its confidence in Umahi and called on the minister to be allowed to concentrate on his responsibilities without what it described as politically motivated distractions.
The group said Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit had accumulated over decades and could not be solved through political pronouncements or media attacks.
It argued that addressing the country’s road infrastructure challenges required continuity, funding, engineering expertise, effective supervision, contractor accountability and sustained presidential support.
Warning Ahead of 2027 Elections
Ohanaeze further warned political actors against creating unnecessary controversies within the governing political structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
The organisation said the Renewed Hope administration required unity of purpose and urged party stakeholders to complement government performance rather than create avoidable distractions.
It stressed that constructive criticism was welcome but rejected what it described as reckless allegations, ethnic insinuations and attempts to undermine established governmental responsibilities.
“Let the Projects Speak”
The group urged Emami to present specific concerns about roads in the Niger Delta through verifiable facts, including their locations, contractual status, funding position and engineering challenges.
It said genuine administrative concerns should be addressed through appropriate government channels rather than through allegations of hatred against an entire region.
“The Nigerian people deserve facts, not manufactured antagonism,” Ohanaeze said.
The organisation concluded by urging President Tinubu to remain focused and continue supporting members of his administration who were delivering on their mandates.
“Senator David Nweze Umahi should be allowed to work. His record should be debated with facts, not attacked with sentiments,” the group stated.
The statement was signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President-General, and Prof. Chibuikeya Achokawa, Acting Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.