ADC chieftain tackles Umahi, says Tinubu has not addressed south-east grievances

Adolphus Ude, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu state, says President Bola Tinubu has not addressed the long-standing grievances of the south-east.

On Wednesday, David Umahi, the minister of works, said the Tinubu administration has ended years of exclusion of the south-east from national development, particularly in infrastructure and security.

In a statement on Thursday, the ADC chieftain described Umahi’s remarks as misleading and not reflective of sentiments in the south-east.

Ude, a former deputy chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu and coordinator of ADC Enugu Like Minds, said Igbo marginalisation has worsened since Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

He said members of ADC Enugu Like Minds believe in a united and indivisible Nigeria and do not support secessionist agitation.

He rejected the claim that Igbos are satisfied with the governance style of the Tinubu administration.

“Which of the long-standing grievances of the South East region has the Tinubu administration addressed? What has the Tinubu government done for the Igbos, different from what successive governments did?” he asked.

“Which inclusive governance is the minister talking about when the entire South East was excluded from the two outrageously priced signature road infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration—the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway—both awarded to the controversial Hitech Construction Company Limited?”

He said none of the multi-trillion naira signature road projects passed through Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, or Ebonyi states, adding that federal road projects inherited by the Tinubu administration in the south-east have suffered slow execution.

He cited the Enugu-Port Harcourt, Owerri-Onitsha and Enugu-Onitsha expressways.

“In January 2024, Umahi told us that the Federal Government had commenced the Ninth Mile-Enugu-Makurdi Highway,” Ude said.

“Almost two years after, the Enugu axis, which is within the South East, remains in a decrepit state.

“Umahi claimed that these concrete roads, when completed, will last 50–100 years. Whether they will last forever or not, let him complete them first before talking about how long the roads will last.”

Ude referenced reports that the federal executive council approved projects worth about N3.9 trillion for Lagos state within two years.

He challenged Umahi to state the monetary value of federal road projects in the entire south-east to support claims of inclusion and cautioned him against statements that could harm Igbo interests.

He said balanced national development cannot be achieved without equity, fairness and justice in infrastructure allocation.

Ude also said the south-east has been marginalised in ministerial appointments and leadership of federal agencies.

“Ogun state alone has four ministerial positions, one shy of the five ministerial positions given to the entire South-East region by the Tinubu administration,” he said.