Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Senator David Umahi as Minister of Works and for prioritising the rehabilitation of federal road infrastructure in the Southeast.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued in Abakaliki, the group’s Deputy National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzor, described these as the two most impactful actions the Tinubu administration has taken for the region since coming into office.
He noted that since the end of the Nigeria-Biafra War in 1970, no administration has won the trust of the Southeast like Tinubu’s, through what he called critical interventions and infrastructural commitments.
Isiguzor emphasised that these efforts hold greater value for the Southeast than individual political ambitions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He cited the construction and rehabilitation of long-abandoned federal roads, particularly the Cross River–Ebonyi–Benue–Kogi–Abuja Super Highway, which he described as a transformative project that will enhance connectivity between the Southeast and the North.
The group’s Deputy National president also called on the federal government to ensure the timely release of funds for the rapid completion of ongoing road projects, stressing that the super highway, being initiated for the first time in 55 years, underscores a tangible commitment to the region.
The statement reads, The statement read, “Over the past 55 years, since the conclusion of the Nigeria-Biafra War in 1970, it is undeniable that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands as the first President to demonstrably capture the hearts and cultivate the trust of the people of the Southeast, and this significant shift in perception stems from two critical factors.”
“Firstly, the strategic appointment of Senator Nweze David Umahi, a distinguished son of Igboland, as Minister of Works, an unprecedented recognition of Igbo capacity in this crucial portfolio since the 1970s and secondly, Mr. President’s resolute commitment toward addressing the long-neglected and severely dilapidated Federal road infrastructure within the Southeast.”
“We, the people of the Southeast, are exceedingly proud of the exemplary performance of Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi and his adoption of innovative construction techniques in the rehabilitation of inherited and newly approved roads, including the monumental LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL SUPER HIGHWAY and the SOKOTO-BADAGRY SUPER HIGHWAY, among others.”
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo proudly acknowledges Senator Umahi as one of the top five performing Ministers within the Federal Executive Council, and his exceptional diligence and outstanding performance over the past two years have significantly enhanced the political prospects of the Southeast, fostering robust alliances across the nation.”
“This is exemplified through his periodic TINUBU’S RENEWED HOPE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURAL ROAD DEV Zonal Townhall Meetings, conducted across all six geopolitical zones, allowing him to gauge the immediate needs and concerns of Nigerians regarding their dilapidated road infrastructure.”
“The bitter lessons of Nigerian political history teach us that, regrettably, past Presidents have often fallen short of prioritising the tangible development of their immediate ethnic groups and geopolitical zones.”
“For instance, former President Goodluck Jonathan failed to construct a significant network of durable Federal roads in his Niger-Delta region, while the late Muhammadu Buhari, despite his eight years, proved unable to definitively resolve the Boko Haram insurgency, nor did he successfully address the prevalent insecurity challenges in the North.”
“While the Southeast undoubtedly possesses the legitimate right to aspire to the Office of President of Nigeria, the immediate priority must be the unwavering support for the completion of the critical projects initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, between now and 2027 and beyond.”
“The Tinubu administration is demonstrably prioritising the needs of the Southeast, effectively addressing the long-standing issues of marginalisation, systematic exclusion from vital projects and impactful policies, and the historical grievances which have plagued Ndigbo for generations.”
“His administration appears to be dismantling the age-old barriers designed to cripple the economic and social progress of our people.”
