Nigerian Minister of Works, Nweze David Umahi has reechoed the determination of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in fixing the ailing road infrastructure across the nation.
Umahi stated this when the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the newly elected Governor of the State Ahmed Usman Ododo visited him in his office at Ministry’s Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November 2023
Minister of Works stated that the President’s intervention on the road infrastructure deficit in the country was part of his roadmap towards revamping the economy of the nation.
In a statement released by the his Ministry, he thanked the Governor for the will to seek Federal Government’s intervention on the road infrastructure challenges in his State and the passion to work for the good of the State.
“We inspected road from 11am on my first day in office and I got back to Abuja by 2am, it shows the passion you have for the State.
“It is not by chance that my first working day was in Kogi State and I saw the acceptability and show of true love among the villagers for you. Your people are people of gratitude. I remember the ovation that greeted our inspection visit to Murtala Muhammed Way bridge in Kogi State”
The Minister assured the Governor that the Kogi Highway was part of the Federal roads listed for palliative intervention by Mr President. “I want to assure you that Mr President has instructed our Ministry to go and start that portion of the road and you will soon see a lot of concrete structures on a number of sections of that road that are challenged”.
Umahi also thanked the Governor for his commitment to the ideals of All Progressives Congress (APC) and for his doggedness that saw the Party through in the recently concluded Governorship election in Kogi State and said the victory was a testimony of the good works of the Governor and the acceptability of the rulling Party by the people of the State.
He praised the Governor for his sense of inclusiveness and nationalism in his affairs as Governor of Kogi State. “I thank you for being nationalistic I know a lot of South Easteners that have made your Cabinet, I also know a lot of people that had security challenges; that were kidnapped far away but you helped in rescuing them even across State”.
The Minister used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor- Elect and charged him to be magnanimous with victory, cultivate leadership virtues, remember his route and remain steadfast with his Party.
According to him, “Every young man entering a very high position like this is open to a lot of temptations. One admonition that guides me which I will share with you today is the fact that anyone who pays evil for the good done onto him, evil will not depart from his house”.
He continued, “the teeth and the tongue often have misunderstanding but they live together, the Governor made a lot of enemies because of you, let these enemies reconcile with him through you, all what the Governor looks for from you is not money or position, all he looks for is respect and honour because to whom God has honoured man must honour the person.
“Mr President has suffered all kinds of betrayals and if you have suffered betrayal you would feel it, and when Mr President sees a man that is on the part of betraying another, he will not be happy with such a person. If you follow the Governor he will guide you. If he trusted you to enthrone you, who else will he now trust again. He is a unique man and he is a man to emulate.”
Earlier the Kogi State Governor extolled the Hon. Minister for the transformation and innovation he has brought on board to accomplish the Renewed Hope road infrastructure agenda of Mr President and the extra-ordinary passion with which he follows Mr President’s directives on road revolution.
“The very first day you resumed office that was the day you hit the ground running. You have been inspecting roads ever since then you are not resting, there was no budget, no money for you, yet we see work going on across the country.
“Contractors have returned back to site. Federal Roads Maintenance Agency FERMA is working, you are also responding to calls and messages and you are so responsive , you are a leader that all of us are proud of.”
The Governor further said, “I am here to principally show an appreciation to God Almighty and to show appreciation to my wonderful brother Senator David Umahi the former Governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works for all the assistance he rendered to us physically, spiritually, financially and infact in every way.
“I am introducing my next successor Hon. Ahmed Ododo to His Excellency. Ever since I joined the club of Governors you have been so distinguished. I came in as APC Governor, you were PDP Governor then, irrespective of our political parties, you proved to be an elder statesman. You are a politician but you are an elder statesman.
“You are always uniting the Governors across party line that was why it was easy for me to predict that you were going to join us because your mind is progressive; your mind is always progressive that was why you were able to govern Ebonyi State.
“With the little and meagre resources you turned the State around and Ebonyi is wearing a new look today. You mentor leaders that is why it is not surprising the assistance I received from you in coming up with another leader to take over from me in Kogi State.”
The Governor continued, “Today you are in the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a Minister of Works with his Renewed Hope agenda, we are saying a very big thank you to you and may the good Lord protect you in discharging responsibility as the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.