You owe Tinubu an apology – Umahi tells Kwankwaso over statement

Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr) David Umahi has called out Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over his claim that President Bola Tinubu, is developing more roads in the South than in the North of the country.

In his reaction, the Minister considered the statement to be a grave misleading information made intentionally to deceive the people in the North and to pretend that Kwankwaso loves the North more than any other leader from the North.

Umahi also considered the statement as one made out of desperation and as part of Kwankwaso’s struggle, along with a few others who believe that they can inherit the impeccable legacy of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
“And that the only way available for them towards achieving the same is to be divisive and pretentious. Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be a job of three decades and cannot be done with deceit”, the Minister stated.

Umahi added, “I think our younger generation has such a chance and it must be worked for through hard work, honesty, transparency, and commitment to the unity of our country, a legacy that our late President Buhari, achieved in all his life on earth. May God continue to bless his legacies and give him a peaceful rest, Amen”.

The Minister highlighted few key ongoing projects in each of the six Geo-Political Zones. “The four Legacy Road Projects of President Bola Tinubu, Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway, which is 750 km.
“As of today, a total of 110 km is ongoing within Lagos State and 65 km within Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The total ongoing is 175 km by 6 lanes or 350 km by 3 lanes in the South.

“The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which is 1068km: As of today, we have 258 km ongoing at the Kebbi section and 120 km ongoing at the Sokoto section. The total ongoing is 378 km by 6 lanes or 756 km by 3 lanes in the North.

“Trans Sahara road spanning through Cross River – Ebonyi – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja, which is 465km: 118 km by 3 lanes or 59 km by 6 lanes is ongoing in Ebonyi State – South. Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe road, which is 439km.

“Project is being redesigned from flexible pavement to rigid pavement for more durability, as directed by Mr. President, and in conformity with the other legacy projects. Out of the total length of these Projects, the North has 52% and the South 48%.

“And within the ongoing projects, as of today, the South has 409 km by 3lanes and the North has 756km by 3 lanes. The facts are there. I wonder why people don’t talk about other legacy projects of Mr. President but will always dwell on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“This road has only 220 km by 3 lanes in Lagos State which is ongoing now, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have 130km by 3 ongoing lanes, whereas Kebbi state, alone, has 316 km by 3 lanes is ongoing. Sokoto state has 240 km with 3 lanes that is ongoing”.
The Minister said Sen. Kwankwaso is not fair to the President, the unity of Nigeria and owe the President an apology with a duty to withdraw his statement.

He added that the utterances of some political leaders are just intended to deceive Nigerians and gain political favour instead of making statements that will unite the country and move it forward.

Umahi said he has a duty in the coming week to publish all inherited projects and new projects that are either completed or ongoing under the Renewed Hope Administration.

“I can say with all sense of responsibility that President Tinubu, is a fair President. He has favoured the North in road development more than the South, especially the North West, where Sen. Kwankwaso comes from.  
“Apart from the four legacy projects, 80% of the above-named ongoing projects were projects awarded by the past administration towards the end of that administration in 2023 but never took off effectively, which President Tinubu decided to continue to fund towards completion.

“If he had abandoned them, the same people would complain. I have been under pressure from some stakeholders for the construction of their major roads like the abandoned Ibadan – Oyo by Arab Contractors, Ibadan – Ile Ife – Ilesa, Ilesa – Akure – Benin, and Ore – Sagamu roads”.

The Minister pressed further that he has been badly accused that he is only doing projects in the North, especially the North West. “The Third Mainland Bridge is being closed down to heavy trucks because of underwater structural defects.

“The Carter Bridge is so deformed that it needs to be demolished, reconstructed. These are the real major projects in the South West, which I have been appealing to Mr President to give me money to do because the people of the South West may think that I am doing nothing about the major projects in their zone.
“These projects are within a major economic corridor between the South and the North that deserve attention. Moreover, these bridges, if allowed to further deteriorate, will lead to serious economic consequences for the nation.

“Mr President is not only fair in the completion of major inherited/new projects but they are all within the major economic corridors of our nation.

“I will publish all ongoing projects, which are above 20 billion naira each next week. We still have many projects within the six geopolitical zones that are not listed here. In this circumstance, I don’t know where Sen Kwankwaso got his misinformation”, he said.

Umahi urged Nigerians to ignore Senator Kwakwans’s misleading statement and know that President Tinubu is evenly committed to developing every part of this country with fairness, equity, and the fear of God.