The south-east geopolitical zone will eventually provide Nigeria’s president, according to Works Minister Dave Umahi, but not in the 2027 elections.
Umahi urged residents of the southeast to back President Bola Tinubu’s reelection campaign in a statement released on Monday.
“The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?” was the heading of the web publication to which the minister was responding.
Umahi dismissed the report as “misleading and inaccurate”, saying it aimed to portray the Tinubu administration as sidelining the south-east in infrastructure development.
“I understand that politics is now in the air and the chosen path by some persons is to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, look good before the people as one fighting for them and close both eyes pretentiously over the great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing all over the nation,” the statement reads.
Umahi said he has directed all the regional directors of the ministry of works back to sites across the country to compile inherited but ongoing projects and new projects for Nigerians to appreciate the “huge works” that Tinubu is doing irrespective of who voted or did not vote for him.
He said Tinubu is using “fair distribution of infrastructure to reunite Nigerians and renew their hope, and only those who open their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria”.
Umahi demanded the correction of the report and an apology.
“Where was the writer when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR decided to treat South East fairly in road infrastructure like other regions? Umahi asked.
“Under his administration, 90% of abandoned projects, some awarded as far back as 2013, were all revived, and all are now ongoing.”
He highlighted a number of current projects in the area, such as the N176 billion project in Anambra and the ₦46 billion access road to the Second Niger Bridge in Delta state.
He also noted the 208-kilometer Enugu-Onitsha road, which was funded at N202 billion through the MTN tax credit scheme. The remaining portion, which was released last week, was handled by CBC and cost N150 billion to N45 billion.
Additional projects include the four-sectioned Enugu–Port Harcourt road, the Aba–Ikot Ekpene road, the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene road, the Afikpo–Abia–Imo road, the Onitsha–Owerri–Aba road, and the Enugu–Abakaliki road.
‘IGBO WILL PRODUCE PRESIDENT, BUT NOT IN 2027’
Umahi asked Igbo to support Tinubu because he has “demonstrated unwavering love and fairness to the people” of the south-east.
“We must not be deceived again. Mr President must have the votes of the South East up to 90% to cement this relationship,” he said.
“Enough of darkening counsel without knowledge in the South East. We must rise to educate our people.
“If we want to be president, we must avoid the politics of hate, misinformation, and sentiments.
“We must support other regions, and with God, one day, other regions will support us. Mr President must be supported to complete his tenure of 8 years, which all regions are benefitting from.
“One day, we will be number one, but not in 2027. I will vocally continue to stand against any mischief to deceive our people. We are known for hard work and love and not hate.”
The minister urged continuous support for the president and praised the governors of the southeast for their development efforts.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, support for the South-East presidency has grown.
Former Anambra governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has announced his plan to run again in the 2027 elections.