Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has declared that President Bola Tinubu tasked him with rewriting the wrongs of the South-East, insisting that the region should acknowledge the infrastructural progress being made under the current administration. In a statement that has sparked widespread debate, Umahi also claimed that his position as minister was instrumental in securing projects for the region, warning that without him, the South-East would not be receiving the federal attention it is currently enjoying.
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, made the remarks on August 13, 2026, while defending the administration's record in the region. He framed his appointment as part of a divine plan, stating: “Because tomorrow, they will find out that, you know, God sent me at a time like this to tell the truth. The President wants to bring the people of the South-East together. And I need to be really honest with you”. The minister went further, asserting that his presence in the Federal Executive Council was the reason the South-East was now receiving significant infrastructure projects. “If I wasn't the minister from South-East, we wouldn't be able to get the projects we are getting right now. So, it's a plan by the President to fix the problems in the South-East area,” he said.
Umahi also addressed the long-held grievances of marginalisation in the region, urging South-Easterners to stop being sentimental about federal interventions. He cited ongoing projects such as the dualisation of the Enugu–Onitsha Road, the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway, and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as evidence of the administration's commitment. “The South East, for the first time, we are remembered… our people should not be sentimental,” he said. He noted that travel times on some routes had been significantly reduced, pointing to the Enugu–Onitsha Road where construction is now over 50 per cent complete.
The minister's comments come amid growing political discussions over the Federal Government's development agenda in the South-East. Umahi has consistently urged the region to support Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, arguing that the administration is addressing past injustices. He previously described Tinubu as standing with the South-East to “rewrite our history and relaunch us into the mainstream of the federal government”. In July 2026, he disclosed that Section One of the Cross River–Abuja Legacy Highway, covering about 125 kilometres, was nearing completion with more than 30 per cent of the alignment traversing Ebonyi communities.
However, Umahi's claims have not gone unchallenged. Critics have accused him of sycophancy and of prioritising political loyalty over genuine development. The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) previously dismissed his assertions as “empty defeatist rhetoric, narrowly-minded and suspicious”. The group questioned what Tinubu had done for the South-East and accused Umahi of advancing “sycophantic” interests at the expense of his people. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State has also rejected Umahi's narrative, insisting that the South-East remains the most marginalised geopolitical zone under the Tinubu administration and that the region will not support the President in 2027.
Umahi has acknowledged the criticism, stating that he receives insults for defending the administration but remains undeterred. He said, “And that's why they insult me, and I enjoy the insults, because tomorrow, they will find out that, you know, God sent me at a time like this to tell you the truth”. The minister also used biblical references to justify his mission, quoting God's instruction to Moses: “What do you have in your hands?”.
The debate over the South-East's place in Nigeria's political and economic landscape is likely to intensify as the 2027 elections approach. Umahi's declaration that he was sent to “right the wrongs of the South-East” has placed him at the centre of that conversation, drawing both support and sharp criticism. Whether his message will resonate with a region that has long felt marginalised remains to be seen, but the minister has made it clear that he believes he is carrying out a divine and presidential mandate.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments