Umahi: South-east will produce president someday — but not in 2027

Dave Umahi, minister of works, says the south-east geopolitical zone will produce Nigeria’s president someday, but not in the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, Umahi appealed to people of the south-east to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The minister was responding to an online publication titled, ‘The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?’.

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 several ongoing projects in the region, including the access road to the Second Niger Bridge in Delta state valued at ₦46 billion and another N176 billion project in Anambra.

He also mentioned the 208km Enugu-Onitsha road, funded through the MTN tax credit scheme at N202 billion, with CBC handling the remaining section at N150 billion — N45 billion, which was released last week.

Other projects include the Enugu–Port Harcourt road (divided into four sections), the Enugu–Abakaliki road, the Afikpo-Abia–Imo road, the Onitsha–Owerri–Aba road, the Aba–Ikot Ekpene road, and the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene 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 commended the south-east governors for their development drive and called for continued support for the president.

There has been growing advocacy south-east presidency ahead of the 2027 elections.

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra governor, has declared his intention to contest again in the 2027 elections.