Igbo organisations based overseas, including the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), the Rising Sun Foundation and Ambassadors for Self Determination, have strongly criticised the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, over his recent remarks urging the abandonment of the Biafra agitation. The groups rejected his claim that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has eliminated all forms of marginalisation against the Igbo.
In a joint statement issued yesterday, the organisations described Umahi’s comments as offensive and out of touch with reality, insisting that he lacks the authority to speak on behalf of Ndigbo. They argued that his position reflects only his personal views and not the collective will or experiences of the Igbo people.
The statement was jointly signed by Dr Sylvester Onyia, President of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent; Ben Nwankwo, representing Ambassadors for Self Determination; and Maxwell Dede of the Rising Sun Foundation.
According to the groups, Umahi’s assertion that Igbo grievances have been fully addressed by the Federal Government amounts to a gross misrepresentation of facts. They stressed that while he is entitled to his personal beliefs, he has neither the mandate nor the moral standing to dismiss the long-standing concerns driving the Biafra movement or to attempt to halt it.
They further accused Umahi of political self-interest, warning that history is replete with examples of individuals who, after aligning with central power against their people, were later discarded. Emphasising that Umahi does not represent Ndigbo or even the entirety of Ebonyi State, the groups said he speaks solely for himself.
Questioning the basis of his claims, the organisations challenged the minister to identify concrete actions by the Tinubu administration that demonstrate special consideration for the South-East. They cited the continued abandonment of the Umuahia–Enugu railway line in contrast to functioning rail corridors in other regions, the limited ministerial representation of the South-East, and the absence of key infrastructure such as seaports, functional cargo airports, federal industries and maritime projects in Igbo land.
The statement also raised concerns about what it described as unequal treatment under the law, querying the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism-related charges, while individuals widely regarded as actual terrorists are allegedly handled with leniency.
The groups concluded that any claim suggesting the end of marginalisation in the South-East ignores persistent structural and political imbalances, and they questioned whose interests Umahi is truly defending by making such assertions.