By Abiola Olawale
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has declared that the South-East region is prepared to deliver 90% of its votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the Alaoji axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Umahi, a former Ebonyi State Governor emphasized that the region’s political trajectory is shifting away from opposition sentiments toward a strategic alliance with the center.
Recall that the South-East region showed overwhelming support for the Labour Party in the 2023 polls.
However, Umahi argued that the “Obidient” wave is receding, making room for a pragmatic appreciation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister also said it is not yet the turn of the south-east to produce Nigeria’s president and urged the zone to be strategic in its political decisions.
He commended Tinubu for “legacy projects” in the region and warned that failure to support the president would be detrimental to the south-east.
“All the marginalisation we complain about has been addressed by the president — unless we are not being truthful to ourselves, there is no more marginalisation in the south-east,” Umahi said.
“You know, giving the Ministry of Works to the south-east is no mean feat, because we have never had a Minister of Works.
“You can see the results and the intention of the president. You can see the good heart of the president. So it’s time for payback.”
The minister said ongoing road projects from Port Harcourt to Enugu show the scale of federal presence in the region, noting that the south-east has never benefited as much in Nigeria’s history.
“When I was deputy governor, then governor for eight years, not a single federal road project came to the state. But today, we can boast of numerous projects ongoing,” he said.
“We can boast of projects worth trillions of naira in the south-east, just like in other regions. The biggest legacy projects of the president are in the southeast.
“We have service chiefs, key appointments, and a lot happening in the south-east under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. So it’s time to support the president.
“The people of the south-east should support the president. We should not be guided by sentiments or non-strategic moves. We should tell our brother, Peter Obi, that it is not yet our turn.”
