Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has said that all governors in Nigeria’s Southeast region are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and called on former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, to join them in backing the administration.
Umahi made the statement during a feature interview for an upcoming State House documentary marking President Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
“All the governors in the Southeast, regardless of party affiliation, are working with the President,” Umahi said. “We’re even planning a summit to bring together all South-East leaders to endorse the President for the 2027 elections formally.”
He urged opposition figures in the region to put aside politics for the sake of development.
“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,” he said.
“I call on my brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, to join us and work with Mr. President. He 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.”
According to Umahi, the Tinubu administration has brought renewed federal attention to the region, with several major infrastructure projects ongoing.
“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 said.
He added that key federal roads such as Port Harcourt–Enugu, Enugu–Abakaliki, Enugu–Onitsha, and Onitsha–Owerri are currently under construction, alongside continued work on the Second Niger Bridge.
“Today, the South East has a Minister of Works for the first time, and we’re seeing real projects,” he noted. “The President has already paid 30 per cent of the cost of that bridge.”
On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi revealed that over 80 percent of Section 1—from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Junction—has been completed, while work is progressing on Section 2.
“By December, we will toll Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. We project a 10-year return on investment,” he said, adding that the road includes solar-powered lighting, CCTV, and carbon credit advantages.
“It is more than a road—it is an economic corridor and a catalyst for regional growth,” he said.
The Minister also gave updates on other national projects, including the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, the Trans-Saharan Trade Route, and the proposed Ogun-Ondo-Niger Corridor.