Senator Umeh fires back at Sheriff over comments North won’t vote for Obi

Senator Victor Umeh has dismissed former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s claim that Northerners will reject Peter Obi in 2027, accusing Sheriff of stoking ethnic divisions with outdated political tactics.

Umeh was responding to Sheriff’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where the former governor declared that Northern voters would not support the NDC presidential candidate because he is “divisive.”

“When reminded that Obi secured substantial votes in Nasarawa and Plateau during the 2023 election, Sheriff dismissed the comparison, alleging that Obi had “chased all the Northerners out of Anambra State” during his tenure as governor.

But Umeh pushed back firmly on Tuesday, stating that Sheriff’s remarks reflect an antiquated political mindset that no longer resonates with modern Nigeria.

“Anybody who gets up to say the North will not vote for Peter Obi is inciting their people against him to weaponise a war that ended 56 years ago,” Umeh said. “Let them remain in the stone age. Nobody is in the stone age anymore. Nigeria is moving. Without reconciliation and healing, you cannot move forward.”

Umeh described Obi as “one of the finest souls Nigeria has had” — a non-violent figure who preaches peace and responds to provocation with restraint.

“He is somebody even if you slap him he will smile and continue with his message of change. Let this country be turned around,” Umeh added.

The exchange follows Obi’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu over worsening insecurity and his call for the President to resign if unable to protect Nigerians.

Sheriff had argued that Obi was the least qualified person to make such a demand, insisting that Tinubu is making genuine efforts to address security challenges.

Umeh defended Obi’s right to speak out, noting that it is politically permissible to call for a president’s resignation — just as Tinubu himself once asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to step down.

“Obi has a right to say the President has not met the expectations of Nigerians,” Umeh said. “It is politically allowed.”

The Senator further criticised the Tinubu administration over the rising cost of petrol and the resulting hardship, arguing that the government has not done enough to ease the burden on ordinary Nigerians.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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