BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has begged the people of Southeast to re-elect President Bola Tinubu for another four-year in office.
Umahi, who made the appeal at the reopening of completed section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving road infrastructure across the Southeast and Nigeria generally.
He pondered on the past condition of the road and its importance to the region, adding that: “The journey of Enugu to Onitsha was taking about 7 hours before 2023. The most important road in South East is the Enugu-Onitsha expressway."
He explained that the project, which was initially under a tax credit arrangement involving MTN Nigeria and executed by RCC, had stalled before quick intervention from the President.
According to the minister, the President’s intervention brought renewed direction and improved construction standards.
“The President didn’t only give acceleration to the construction of this road but he directed that atleast 50% of it must be on concrete and like that of Lagos Calabar coastal Highway," he said.
He noted that the project was earlier awarded without significant progress before the current administration reviewed and restructured it.
"The project was awarded before the coming of President Tinubu with no meaningful progress made. We reviewed it and allowed MTN to continue with their contract sum excluding 72KM," he added.
Highlighting the scale of commitment, Umahi said: “It takes a lot of courage to do what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing. The entire road was approved for reconstruction by the President."
Providing updates on the current status, the minister noted: "The first 50km of reinforced concrete pavement is about 97% completed but the President directed me to come and open the road so that the people of SouthEast will not suffer during the Easter period and that why I am here to open the first 15km of the road."
He further outlined several ongoing and completed road projects across the Southeast.
"The third legacy project is connecting southeast to Abuja in less than 4 hours. The section of that project is going on in the southeast, 123km, 455b and it’s being done in reinforced concrete pavement.”
"That is not enough, we have Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe, 64km, it’s being reconstructed under Dangote Tax credit, 193b, concret work is ongoing.
"The Aba Ikot Ekpene Road, 1 Carriageway is completed, the second one is being engaged.
"Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene is 95 percent done.
"The Umuahia - Aba being executed by Arab contractors is 99% done.
"The Owerri-Aba road, being constructed by Arab contractors is 70% done.
"The second Niger By Pass, 17.5km with multiple bridge and flyovers, 174b, being done by CGC, that work is ongoing, 30% being paid for.
"The Enugu-Abakaliki, 183b, 30% fully paid, that project is ongoing.”
"You come to multiple section, Enugu to Portharcourt. First section from Enugu being done by CGC, 60km dualized, about 70% of that project is done. We have directed that the remaining project of about 64km should be done on concrete. That is being done by CGC and that is 100b.
"You come to the Setraco section, 99% finished. You come to the Arab contractors from Umuahia to Aba, 99% finished. Infact, we have to change the section in Aba, the last lane to be on concrete.
"You come to Aba to Portharcourt, it’s being done by CCECC, one full carriageway done, second carriageway redesigned to be done on concrete.
"Time will fail us to say all that the President is doing in SouthEast. Owerri - Onitsha, that project is ongoing by CGC.
"You come to one of the biggest Flyover in the country at Ekeobinagu, that project is 99% done. It’s almost 1km of Flyover. You all witnesses to the quality and the beauty and it’s for the President to commission it."
Referencing key emergency interventions, he said: “Talk about the two bridges that collapsed at Artisan section of Enugu State, within 9 months, the President reconstructed them with solar light.
"You can see this Enugu-Onitsha, it’s going to be solar light all through. That’s what’s happening in Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, that’s what’s happening Sokoto Badagry."
Speaking on regional development and inclusion, the minister stated: “I boldly say that the Biafra we are looking for is here and that’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
"In 2027, the people of SouthEast must be very strategic. We want these projects to be completed.”
"God already told me, you know this is David, the only man that is both Priest and king. And God has told me that President Tinubu will win again, he will win again.
"It’s important that our people are strategic. We will not mount the seat of presidency by foul language, by mere wish, nobody will give it to us. We have to be strategic.
"I will not stop telling the southeast, no matter who has the presidential ticket of other political parties, Southeast people must be strategic to support the president.
On concerns about marginalization, he noted that: “The marginalisation we are talking about, it’s over, for the first time, your son is Minister of Works."
Speaking to leaders of South East, he said: "I want to plead with leaders of SouthEast, we need to be vocal in telling the people what the president is doing for us. No more marginalisation.
"We never had service chiefs before but this administration, we have two, one before and one now. So, all the marginalisation we are talking about is over now. It may not be 100% but the president have just begun. And so we have to support him."
He also referenced earlier political agreements, adding that: "Yes, South East deserves to be president but in 2023, we gave that right, Southern president to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We all met in Asaba, all the Southern Governors and we said it’s our turn, Emilokan, Emilokan will be over in 2031."
On political engagement and unity, he said: "My mouth will not close in telling the people of South East, in leading them, in appealing to them for us to be wise.
"Anybody that is not supporting who you are supporting, you start attacking them, what sort of politics is that?
"We vote for our brother in SouthWest, when it’s our turn, they will vote for us, that’s the strategy."
On the economy and governance, he stated that: "The president has done extremely very well. You have to understand the kind of economy Mr. President inherited but the macro economy are all breathing very very well. They are all alive, the worst is over, the president is dealing with the micro economy.
"When you talk about fuel economy and so on and so forth, strategic meeting was held on how to handle the unfortunate incident of the Iran war which has brought hardship on our people, so, the President is not asleep on this."
He enjoined the Governor of Imo State to charge all the leaders of South East to be very vocal about supporting the President.
Umahi said: "We will not support the President keeping quiet. Leaders must meet. We must collectively proclaim what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing for us."
"And I am bold to say that all the Governors of southeast are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But we have to take it down to our supporters, let them know what the president is doing for us.
"Let them know that when we appreciate what he has done for us, he will do more for us."
He emphasized that governance is about development, infrastructure, fairness, equality and justice.
"For the first time, we are part of being at the helm of affairs. As we are developing other regions through the support, finances, leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, South East for the first time is not left behind.
“I have directed for a review of all the failed asphalt sections on this road. I have directed full solar light from Enugu to Onitsha.I have also directed full tree planting from Enugu to Onitsha.
"That is the proof of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He will do more for us.
"We should not be aiming to give him anything less than 80 percent. Do that and leave the rest for us. We will boldly go to negotiation table. Let nobody split our votes. Let nobody mislead us.
"I was shouting it when I was Governor like John the Baptist, prepare the ways of the Lord. This time I am shouting it again. Be strategic in voting for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
"If you are not being vocal to let the people know what the president is doing for us, then you are not for us.
"We need our leaders to begin to be very vocal and to be bold and begin to declare this divine president as a gift to the people of South East.
"And he has asked me in furtherance to his love and commitment to the people of South East to come and open this road.
"This first section is very strategic in the life of our people. No more trailers falling at Ugwu Onyema, no more people suffering.”
"And we are going to put all the road architecture and our people will be very happy with what Mr. President has done for us."
This was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works on Media, Francis Nwaze.
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