ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Enugu State House of Assembly member and former South-East spokesman for the Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Denge Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, has urged political actors in the South-East to avoid personal attacks and insults against former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Onoh made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja, amid recent public exchanges involving Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Minister of Works David Umahi and other political actors. He argued that political disagreements should not undermine what he described as the region’s broader interests.
Onoh Calls For Political Restraint
Onoh said political differences and competing political interests were legitimate features of democracy. However, he argued that publicly disparaging prominent politicians from the region for short-term political advantages could weaken the South-East’s collective influence at the national level.
“We must look at the broader political matrix of Nigeria,” Onoh said.
According to him, major political blocs often protect prominent figures within their ranks despite internal disagreements because weakening an influential politician could affect the bargaining strength of the wider group.
He warned that continued division among South-East politicians could leave the region without a sufficiently cohesive voice in national affairs.
‘True Unity Is The Strategic Asset’
Onoh described the possibility of South-East politicians becoming what he called “political nomads” as a consequence of failing to build a mutually respectful political front.
He also referred to historical instances in which politicians allegedly sacrificed regional solidarity for temporary political patronage, arguing that such actions could eventually affect their standing within their communities.
He said the geographical spread of Igbo communities beyond the five South-East states should also be considered when discussing the region’s political and economic interests.
Onoh cited communities and areas including Ikwerre and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nsukka in Enugu State, Anioma and Igbanke in Delta and Edo states, as well as border communities in Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
“True unity is the ultimate strategic asset,” he said.
Onoh Highlights Obi’s National Profile
Onoh also described Obi as a politician who has developed a significant national profile and cross-regional appeal.
He compared Obi’s national visibility with that of prominent historical figures from the South-East, including Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“Peter Obi has built a major national brand,” Onoh said, arguing that attempts to diminish the former Anambra governor could also affect the region’s political leverage.
The assessment is Onoh’s political view and was presented in the context of his broader argument for greater regional cohesion.
Competition Should Remain Issue-Based
Onoh, however, distinguished between legitimate political competition and personal attacks.
He said politicians could belong to different political parties, support different candidates and pursue competing political interests without resorting to insults.
He cited Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as examples of politicians whom he said had maintained decorum despite differences in their political affiliations and strategies.
Onoh also acknowledged the right of Nigerians to support different candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi or other political contenders.
He urged political actors to make their choices through democratic processes and focus their disagreements on candidates’ programmes, policies and manifestos.
Appeal To South-East Politicians
Onoh called on political leaders in the region to consider the long-term consequences of their public statements and political conduct.
He argued that political appointments and positions were temporary, while relationships between political leaders and their communities could have longer-lasting consequences.
His intervention comes amid continuing political competition ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with politicians and political groups increasingly debating alliances, regional interests and the records of potential contenders.
Onoh’s latest position also reflects a distinction between supporting a political candidate and attacking an opponent personally. His argument is that political competition can continue while maintaining a degree of respect among political actors.
He urged South-East politicians to concentrate on issues, policies and political programmes rather than personal exchanges, saying the region’s long-term interests should remain part of the conversation.
Onoh’s comments do not amount to an endorsement of Obi’s political candidacy; rather, he explicitly maintained that Nigerians remain free to support whichever candidate they choose while calling for restraint in political discourse.
