By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has on Thursday in Abuja refuted claims of neglect of the South-Eastern part of Nigeria by the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister who defended strongly the projects and impact of the President made this refutal during a press briefing in Abuja.
He said, “Let me use the opportunity to talk about what a Senator from my zone has said, talking about the President, and he mentioned me, and that’s Senator Abaribe. Incidentally, he’s my in-law, and I sent him a text that I’m going to reply to him and he said to me that he spoke as an opposition, and nothing personal.
“I’m also going to speak on behalf of the government as far as the issues he raised are concerned, and there will be nothing personal about it.
“First and foremost, I boasted and I still boast that all the Southeast governors are supporting the president, because the President has provided inclusive governance in the country.
“He said that there is no support, that what has the President done for them that they will support him.
“I want to tell you what the president has done for the governors of Southeast and also for the zone. In the first place, the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, is my cousin, who is actually doing very well.
“I attended an occasion with Governor Otti and also Senator Abaribe, and he praised Gov Otti very highly for his performances. And of course, I agree totally with him and other people. They love and support the governor because of his capacity and serious shift in terms of dividends of democracy, judging from the past administrations.
“So let me tell Senator Abaribe that the performance of Governor Otti is a product of President Bola Tinubu. If the President didn’t have the audacity and courage to release more money to the governors, Governor Otti would not be doing what he’s doing.
Umahi emphasized that all Governors of the South-East are supporting President Tinubu, as he has provided inclusive governance, “It is not correct to say the President has done nothing for the South-East.” he said.
In his words, he said, “the performance of Governor Alex Otti is linked to President Tinubu’s decision to release more funds to sub-national governments.”
According to him, the improved fiscal capacity of states under the current administration has enabled governors to deliver more dividends of democracy.
The Minister also faulted past administrations for excluding the South-East from key security appointments, noting that President Tinubu corrected what he described as a long-standing imbalance by appointing strategic service chiefs from the zone.
He added that the establishment of an Army training depot in Ebonyi State was a critical intervention to tackle insecurity in the region.
Umahi highlighted several infrastructure projects he said the President had either initiated, revived or funded substantially in the South-East.
Projects of which includes the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, sections of the Trans-Sahara Road passing through Ebonyi State, the Second Niger Bridge bypass, the dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Road, and ongoing work on the Enugu–Onitsha and Enugu–Port Harcourt expressways.
He said the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway followed due procurement process, including Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), international stakeholder engagement and evaluation by foreign development finance institutions.
Umahi disclosed that the project was later oversubscribed by international financiers, which he said was proof of its viability and transparency.
“The international funders are not jokers,” he said. “They confirmed the project was properly packaged, of high quality and even undervalued.”
The Minister also listed completed and ongoing projects such as the reconstruction and commissioning of the Atani Bridge in Enugu State, the Emene flyover, and improved travel times on major federal highways across the region.
