South-East Alone Can’t Make Peter Obi Nigeria President-Umahi

By Alex Odeh, Pan Afric Reporters

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has stated that the voice of the people of Southeast alone cannot make Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pointing out that Obi is not contesting for the President of the Southeast.

Umahi made this remark on Friday while inspecting the Ebonyi section of the Cross River–Abuja Super Highway, one of the legacy road projects being executed by the Federal Government.

Umahi,who urged the people of the Southeast to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, argued that the region is receiving unprecedented federal infrastructure projects under the current administration.

He admonished the people of Southeast to be more strategic and stop raining insults on people because they are occupying political positions.

He maintained that President Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated fairness to the Southeast through strategic investments in road infrastructure, insisting that no previous administration had matched the level of development currently taking place in the region.

According to him, the ongoing projects are not only improving connectivity but also stimulating economic activities by creating jobs and supporting businesses across the project corridors.

“My assignment is to beg, appeal and educate Nigerians on what the President is doing. People should know that President Tinubu means well for this country. Everything cannot be corrected in three years, but he is making very serious efforts and Nigerians should acknowledge the giant strides being recorded in different sectors,” Umahi said.

He explained that the Federal Government’s investment in infrastructure was helping to address unemployment and economic hardship, noting that thousands of Nigerians had secured direct and indirect jobs through the ongoing road projects.

The minister said workers, food vendors, transporters, suppliers of sand, stone and other construction materials, as well as cement manufacturers, were all benefiting from the infrastructure drive.

“The introduction of reinforced concrete pavement is not only about durability; it is driving economic revolution. Cement manufacturers are recording increased turnover, making more profit and employing more Nigerians. Infrastructure development is creating opportunities across the country,” he said.

Umahi defended the Federal Government’s borrowing policy, saying the loans were being channelled into capital projects rather than recurrent expenditure.

“The President is not borrowing to buy vehicles or pay salaries. He is borrowing for infrastructure, and every nation borrows to develop critical infrastructure. These investments will serve generations to come,” he stated.

The former Ebonyi State governor urged political leaders and residents of the Southeast to embrace strategic politics, stressing that the region alone could not determine Nigeria’s presidency.

“Our brother, Peter Obi, is contesting for the presidency of the entire country, not the presidency of the Southeast. The voice of the Southeast alone cannot produce a President. We must be strategic. We should not insult people because they hold different political opinions,” he said.

He added that the region should appreciate the Federal Government for projects that had placed the Southeast at the centre of national infrastructure development.

Umahi disclosed that Section One of the Cross River–Abuja Legacy Highway, covering about 125 kilometres, was nearing completion, with more than 30 per cent of the alignment traversing Ebonyi communities.

He said contractors had been directed to employ more local workers to maximise the economic benefits accruing to host communities.

According to him, Section Two of the project, spanning about 168 kilometres through Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi States, has also been mobilised after the Federal Government paid 30 per cent mobilisation to the contractor.

He said the completed highway would significantly reduce travel time between the Southeast and the Federal Capital Territory.

“If you are from Ebonyi State, you can get to Abuja in about three hours, and if you are from Enugu, you can get there in about two hours. That is the kind of development we are talking about,” he said.

Umahi assured Nigerians that all of President Tinubu’s legacy road projects would be completed, insisting that the administration would not abandon ongoing projects.

He cited the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway as one of the success stories of the administration, expressing confidence that the project would be completed by December with solar-powered streetlights, landscaping and tolling facilities to guarantee maintenance and security.

The minister also commended the Ebonyi State Government for its cooperation in land acquisition and compensation processes for the highway project, saying there had been no major challenges with property enumeration.

He disclosed that compensation payments would commence after the ongoing review and certification of the enumeration exercise.

Responding to criticism over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway alignment, Umahi denied allegations that the route was altered to favour private estates, explaining that engineering and geotechnical considerations informed the final design.

He said investigations revealed deep peat soil along portions of the coastline, making the original alignment technically unsuitable and economically unsustainable.

The minister also announced immediate intervention on flood-prone sections of federal roads in Ondo State, stating that damaged drainage structures would be redesigned and reconstructed to prevent future flooding.

Reaffirming his political support for President Tinubu, Umahi appealed to the people of Ebonyi State to deliver overwhelming votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.

“Ebonyi is one of the greatest beneficiaries of President Tinubu’s administration. We should continue to pray for him and support him. We are getting what we never got before, and I believe all these legacy projects will be completed under his second term,” he said.