ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi, has come under heavy fire from legal practitioner and socio-political commentator, Bar Darlington, over his recent public utterances, which have been widely perceived as insulting to the Igbo ethnic nationality.
In a sharply worded intervention made available to 247ureports.com, Bar Darlington warned the Minister to tread cautiously, reminding him that political appointments are fleeting and that his core identity remains rooted in his heritage.
A Stern Warning on Political Exploitation
Expressing the growing discontent among various Igbo socio-political circles, Darlington cautioned Umahi against burning bridges with his kinsmen in a bid to please the federal establishment, predicting a familiar political fate for the Minister if he continues on his current trajectory.
“Umahi, all this whatever you are doing, remember you are an Igbo man first and foremost,” Darlington stated bluntly. “And I believe that at the end of the day, they will use you and dump you. So stop all these insults on the Igbos.”
Historical Precedents and Lessons from the Past
The legal practitioner urged the Minister to look back at the history of Nigerian politics, pointing out that many regional leaders who previously abandoned or vilified their own people to curry favor with the center often ended up politically isolated once their utility to the ruling elite expired.
- Learn from History: Darlington challenged the Minister to evaluate the trajectories of past political figures who walked similar paths and note how their careers ended in regret.
- Serve with Dignity: He emphasized that while there is no issue with serving in a federal capacity, it should not come at the expense of denigrating one’s primary constituency.
“Serve the Government, Stop the Insults”
Concluding his critique, Darlington clarified that the grievance isn’t about Umahi’s commitment to his ministerial duties, but rather the rhetoric he employs when addressing regional issues.
“If you want to serve a government, serve a government and stop insulting your people, that’s what we are saying here. Stop all these insults,” he demanded.
Umahi’s recent statements regarding regional agitations, alignment with the center, and local dynamics have continued to spark intense debate across the South-East, with critics like Darlington insisting that national service must be balanced with absolute respect for one’s roots.
