Minister of Works, David Umahi, has boldly declared that the South-East geopolitical zone will deliver 90 percent of its votes to President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, while advising Labour Party stalwart Peter Obi to shelve his presidential ambition for now.
Umahi made the assertion on Saturday during an inspection tour of the Alaoji axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
The former Ebonyi State governor argued that the region has never witnessed the level of federal attention it is currently enjoying under the Tinubu administration, citing “legacy projects” and key appointments as evidence that the perceived marginalization of the Igbo people has been addressed.
Addressing stakeholders and journalists during the tour, Umahi emphasized that the South-East must be strategic in its political calculations.
He posited that the appointment of a Minister of Works from the region, a portfolio he described as unprecedented for the zone, demonstrates the President’s “good heart” towards the people of the South-East.
“All the marginalisation we complain about has been addressed by the president — unless we are not being truthful to ourselves, there is no more marginalisation in the south-east.
“You know, giving the ministry of works to the south-east is no mean feat, because we have never had a minister of works.
“You can see the results and the intention of the president. You can see the good heart of the president. So it’s time for payback,” Umahi stated.
He contrasted the current administration’s performance with his experience as a governor, noting, “When I was deputy governor, then governor for eight years, not a single federal road project came to the state. But today, we can boast of numerous projects ongoing. We can boast of projects worth trillions of naira in the south-east, just like in other regions.”
In a direct message to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Umahi urged patience and political pragmatism. He insisted that the current political cycle does not favor a presidency from the South-East and warned against decisions driven by sentiment rather than strategy.
“The people of the south-east should support the president. We should not be guided by sentiments or non-strategic moves.
“We should tell our brother, Peter Obi, that it is not yet our turn. We should support the president to complete his eight years, and then we can talk about our turn,” Umahi cautioned.
The Minister’s comments come amid ongoing efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to deepen its foothold in the South-East, a region that has traditionally been a stronghold for opposition parties.
