A coalition of Igbo women groups has strongly criticized the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, over his recent comment that President Bola Tinubu has been fair to the South-East region.
Umahi, during a media interaction in Abuja earlier this week, praised President Tinubu’s administration, claiming that the South-East has not had it this good in terms of federal appointments and infrastructure projects. He cited ongoing road construction and key political appointments as evidence of inclusivity and fairness.
However, the statement has sparked outrage among Igbo women activists and civil society organizations, who described Umahi’s comments as “deeply misleading” and “a betrayal of the people’s reality.”
In a joint press conference held in Enugu on Wednesday, spokesperson of the South-East Women’s Forum, Mrs. Ngozi Okoye, said Umahi’s remarks were disconnected from the actual socio-economic and political marginalization the region continues to face under the current administration.
“It is shameful for someone of Umahi’s standing to applaud tokenism while our region suffers neglect. The South-East remains underrepresented in key decision-making positions and national security architecture,” Okoye said.
She further pointed out that insecurity, unemployment, and economic hardship still plague many South-East communities, and the federal government’s interventions have been inadequate.
Another speaker, Dr. Chinelo Nwakamma of the Igbo Women’s Advocacy Network, accused Umahi of using selective road projects to mask the larger issues of exclusion, saying: “You can’t build one road and call it equity. Where is the justice in appointments? Where is the support for our traders and youth?”
The women also called on President Tinubu to engage more meaningfully with the South-East beyond “mere optics and media statements,” urging the federal government to implement inclusive policies that reflect true federal character.
While Umahi has yet to respond to the backlash, political observers say the growing criticism from within the region — especially from grassroots voices like women’s groups — signals a deepening disconnect between federal appointees and the expectations of the people they claim to represent.
The controversy adds to mounting pressure on the Tinubu administration to address long-standing grievances in the South-East, especially amid ongoing discussions about national unity and power equity.
