- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has urged the 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other key regional opposition figures to work with President Bola Tinubu for the greater good of the South East.
Umahi made the call while speaking in a feature interview for an upcoming State House documentary to mark Tinubu’s second year anniversary.
As quoted in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Umahi said that all South East governors support President Bola Tinubu’s administration regardless of their political affiliations.
The Minister held that the South East is witnessing a new wave of federal attention and infrastructure development under the Tinubu.
He highlighted several ongoing projects in the region which were never considered by Federal Government during his time as Ebonyi state governor.
“The Igbo man is enterprising and blessed with God-given wisdom. What Ndi Igbo seek is fairness, Nigeria that treats every zone equally. That is what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing.
“Before, when I was governor and deputy governor, one of our major concerns in Ebonyi State was the lack of federal presence.
“But today, nobody remembers that issue anymore. Under President Tinubu, at least four federal projects are ongoing in Ebonyi State.” Umahi said.
He noted that while cries of marginalisation used to dominate conversations in the South East, the current administration has made significant progress in addressing long-standing concerns about infrastructure and appointments.
“Today, the South East has a Minister of Works for the first time, and we’re seeing real projects—Port Harcourt to Enugu, Enugu to Abakaliki, Enugu to Onitsha, Onitsha to Owerri, and the Second Niger Bridge. The President has already paid 30 per cent of the cost of that bridge.
While reiterating the South East’s governors support of the Tinubu-led administration, Umahi disclosed plan or organize a summit where all leaders of the region will officially endorse Tinubu for second-term.
“All the governors in the South East, regardless of party affiliation, are working with the President.
“We’re even planning a summit to bring together all South-East leaders to endorse the President for the 2027 elections formally.
“We want our projects to be completed, the country’s unity to be strengthened and proper integration of Ndi Igbo.” He said
Umahi again urged key regional opposition figures to align with the President while stressing that Obi must be at the planned summit to endorse Tinubu.
“Leadership is not about self—it’s about the people. If someone else is already doing what you would have done for your people, support him. I call on my brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, to join us and work with Mr. President.
“He must be part of this summit where we will collectively endorse President Tinubu for the 2027 election. I say it boldly: the South East is happy with the President”, he said.