Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has declared that all Southeast governors, regardless of party affiliation, are united in backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, citing his commitment to equity, national unity, and infrastructural development.
Speaking during a documentary interview to mark the second anniversary of the Tinubu administration, Umahi revealed that plans are in progress for a Southeast political summit where regional leaders would formally endorse the President’s re-election bid.
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, called on Southeast stakeholders, including former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, to join the movement.
“I call on my brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, to join us and work with Mr. President. He must be part of this summit where we will collectively endorse President Tinubu for the 2027 election. I say it boldly, the Southeast is happy with the President,” he stated.
In the 2023 election, Obi dominated the Southeast, securing over 90 percent of the vote in the region, while President Tinubu received less than five percent.
The APC currently controls only two of the five Southeast states, Imo and Ebonyi, led by Governors Hope Uzodimma and Francis Nwifuru, respectively.
The remaining states, Enugu, Abia, and Anambra, are governed by the PDP, LP, and APGA.
However, signs of growing alignment are emerging.
Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo publicly endorsed Tinubu during a recent presidential visit, while Enugu’s Peter Mbah is said to hold a favorable view of the President.
Tinubu is scheduled to visit Abia State’s capital, Umuahia, this Friday.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno also expressed strong support for the President after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The President’s performance had made it imperative for him to get the support of all,” Eno said at the State House.
In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Umahi praised the President’s impact on the region.
“The Southeast is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of federal engagement, especially in infrastructure delivery,” he noted.
Highlighting major projects, Umahi cited ongoing federal road works including the Port Harcourt–Enugu, Enugu–Abakaliki, Enugu–Onitsha, and Onitsha–Owerri highways, as well as the continued work on the Second Niger Bridge.
“For the first time, the Southeast has a Minister of Works. That’s not symbolic, it is strategic,” he said. “What we are seeing are real, measurable projects on the ground.”
He revealed that Tinubu has already paid 30 percent of the cost for the Second Niger Bridge, a move Umahi described as changing old narratives of marginalisation.
“When I was governor and even deputy governor in Ebonyi State, one of our greatest worries was the absence of federal presence,” he recalled.
“Today, under President Tinubu, we have at least four federal projects actively ongoing in the state.”
Umahi also underscored the administration’s inclusive approach.
“The Igbo man is naturally enterprising. What we want is fairness and equal opportunity and that is what Mr. President is delivering,” he said.
He added that the forthcoming summit would help cement unity among Southeast governors and promote national integration.
“All Southeast governors, irrespective of political affiliation, are united in support of President Tinubu. The forthcoming summit will make that support official,” Umahi said.
“Leadership is not about self, it’s about the people. If someone else is already doing what you would have done for your people, support them.”
On national infrastructure, Umahi highlighted progress on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, noting that over 80 percent of Section 1, from Ahmadu Bello Way to Lekki Deep Sea Port and Eleko Junction, was nearly completed.
He said Section 2, from Eleko Junction to the Lagos-Ogun border, is also underway.
“This road is not just a road, it’s a corridor of growth. It has solar-powered lights, CCTV infrastructure, and even carbon credit potential. It is designed as a six-lane concrete-paved highway,” he explained, noting toll collection would begin in December.
Sections 3 and 3B of the highway, covering 65 kilometers in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, have also been inaugurated, with local communities showing strong support.
Recalling the origins of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Umahi said “This project is breathing life into an old vision that was left dormant for over 40 years. It is part of the President’s broader effort to unlock Nigeria’s economic and trade corridors.”
He added that other strategic routes, the Trans-Saharan Trade Route and the Ogun-Ondo-Niger Corridor, are vital to long-term economic integration.
“These are legacy projects,economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and future-driven. The President is turning visions into tangible infrastructure,” Umahi said.
He also credited President Tinubu with conceptualising the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway nearly seven years ago.
“Now, he is bringing that vision to life. It speaks volumes about his consistency, leadership, and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s growth,” he concluded.
