Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the South-East region must wait its turn in the race for Nigeria’s presidency, insisting it is not yet the region’s time.
In an interview monitored by DAILY GAZETTE on Sunday, Umahi emphasized that President Bola Tinubu, who hails from the South, must be allowed to complete his eight-year tenure before discussions about South-East presidency can be realistic.
“We, the 17 Southern governors, agreed in Asaba before the 2023 election that the next president should come from the South, regardless of party. Tinubu emerged, and he represents the entire South,” Umahi said. “It would be unfair for the South-East to claim it’s our turn now. Tinubu must finish his term. Only after 2031 can the South-East justifiably make a case.”
While acknowledging that the South-East has never produced a president, Umahi maintained that equity and fairness demand that Tinubu’s tenure be respected.
He noted that both the South-East and North-East can justifiably seek the presidency in future elections.
On the issue of marginalization, Umahi admitted that the South-East has experienced unfair treatment in the past, which partly explains the APC’s poor performance in the region during the 2023 elections, securing only 5.85% of the total votes.
However, he praised President Tinubu’s administration for treating all regions fairly and delivering significant infrastructure projects in the South-East.
He cited N350 billion worth of road projects including Enugu-Onitsha, Port Harcourt-Aba (86 km), Aba-Umuahia (56 km x2), Umuahia-Lokpanta (6 km), Lokpanta-Enugu (61 km x2), N193 billion Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe road under Dangote tax credit, Dualisation of Enugu-Abakaliki road (N183 billion), Trans-Saharan highway from Ebonyi to Benue boundary (N456 billion) and Repairs on damaged bridges and flyovers in Enugu and other areas.
“The Minister of Works portfolio I hold is equivalent to several top-level appointments. More importantly, what we’re achieving under this government far outweighs past promises,” he added.
Umahi urged the South-East to recognize present realities, appreciate the president’s efforts, and remain patient for their turn.
“We have qualified sons and daughters, and when the time is right, we will contest. But for now, we must acknowledge the progress being made under President Tinubu and support his administration,” he concluded.
