Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has criticised Senator Victor Umeh over his recent comments on Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, accusing the lawmaker of promoting division among the Igbo people.
Umeh, while speaking in Awka, Anambra State, reportedly declared that any Igbo person who opposes Obi’s candidacy or discourages others from voting for him is an enemy of the Igbo race.
Reacting to the statement, Yul described the senator’s position as wrong, insisting that nobody should be condemned or labelled an enemy of the Igbo people for supporting a different political candidate.
The actor urged Umeh to respect democratic principles and allow Nigerians, particularly those from the Southeast, to freely decide who they want to support without being subjected to emotional blackmail.
According to Yul, every individual has the constitutional right to support any political candidate of their choice, adding that political differences should not be used to question anyone’s loyalty to the Igbo community.
He further warned that such statements could promote a dangerous atmosphere of intolerance, drawing parallels with the past narrative that portrayed people who opposed Biafran agitation as saboteurs.
Yul argued that the kind of mindset contributed to violence and killings in the Southeast, warning against allowing political disagreements to degenerate into hostility among the people.
The actor’s reaction has brought renewed attention to the debate over Peter Obi’s political influence in the Southeast and the right of individuals to make independent political choices.
