Minister of Works, Senator (Engr) David Umahi has urged key regional opposition figures, especially the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the greater good of the South East.
Umahi disclosed these in a feature interview for an upcoming State House documentary marking President Tinubu’s second anniversary as stated in a statement released by the Presidency.
According to him, “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 him. I call on my brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, to join us and work with Mr. President.
“All the governors in the South East, regardless of party affiliation, are working with the President. We’re even planning a summit to bring together all South-East leaders to endorse the
“President for the 2027 elections formally. We want our projects to be completed, the country’s unity to be strengthened and proper integration of Ndi Igbo.
“Peter Obi must be part of this summit where we will collectively endorse President Tinubu for the 2027 election. I say it boldly: the South East is happy with the President”, the Minister said.
Umahi said that all South East Governors are supporting Tinubu’s administration, regardless of their political affiliations because the region is witnessing a new wave of federal attention, infrastructure development under the President.
“The Igbo man is enterprising and blessed with God-given wisdom. What Ndi Igbo seek is fairness, Nigeria that treats every zone equally. That is what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing.
“Before, when I was governor and deputy governor, one of our major concerns in Ebonyi State was the lack of federal presence. But today, nobody remembers that issue anymore. Under President Tinubu, at least four federal projects are ongoing in Ebonyi State.” 
He noted that while cries of marginalisation used to dominate conversations in the South East, the current administration has made significant progress in addressing long-standing concerns about infrastructure and appointments.
“Today, the South East has a Minister of Works for the first time, and we’re seeing real projects—Port Harcourt to Enugu, Enugu to Abakaliki, Enugu to Onitsha, Onitsha to Owerri, and the Second Niger Bridge. The President has already paid 30 per cent of the cost of that bridge.
On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Minister revealed that over 80 per cent of Section 1, spanning 47.47 km from Ahmadu Bello Way to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and terminating at Eleko Junction—had been completed.
“Work is also progressing on Section 2, which covers 55 kilometres from Eleko Junction to the Lagos-Ogun border.
“By December, we will toll Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. We project a 10-year return on investment. The road has solar-powered lighting and CCTV infrastructure and offers carbon credit advantages.
“It is more than a road—it is an economic corridor and a catalyst for regional growth. We’ve completed 30 kilometres of Section 1 and are on track to complete an additional 10 in Section 2. These are six-lane, concrete-paved highways”, Umahi concluded.
