The Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, has refuted the claims of Senator Abaribe that President Tinubu has done little or nothing to improve the lot of Nigerians, using the South East as a reference point..
It will be recalled that Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South senatorial district had criticized President Tinubu’s performance, saying that Nigerians are suffering under the current government and suggesting this will cost Tinubu his 2027 presidential ambition while speaking on Channels Tv on Monday 15th December, 2025.
Umahi countered the Senator’s claims at a press briefing held Wednesday at the Ministry’s conference hall to update the media on the activitties of the ministry, where he stated categorically that, “It is not correct to say the President has done nothing for the South-East.”
“Let me use the opportunity to talk about what a Senator from my zone has said, talking about the President, and he mentioned me, and that’s Senator Abaribe. Incidentally, he’s my in-law, and I sent him a text that I’m going to reply to him and he said to me that he spoke as an opposition, and nothing personal.
“I’m also going to speak on behalf of the government as far as the issues he raised are concerned, and there will be nothing personal about it.
He wondered how Abaribe could make such comments in spite of appointments and projects which the South East has enjoyed under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He thereafter followed up by reeling out a list of projects being done by the Federal Government across the South Eastern states adding that cries of exclusion of the region from the mainstream of development may have been valid before now but the situation has changed, as according to him, the region currently enjoys inclusion.
“The President has included the South-East in the affairs of the nation,” Umahi said. “We may still discuss marginalisation like other zones, but exclusion is no longer the case under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The projects include the siting of a military depot in Ebonyi state which was recently announced, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, sections of the Trans-Sahara Road passing through Ebonyi State, the Second Niger Bridge bypass, the dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Road, and ongoing work on the Enugu–Onitsha and Enugu–Port Harcourt expressways.
Others are the reconstruction and commissioning of the Atani Bridge in Enugu State as well as the Emene flyover.
“Senator Abaribe needs to know that the Enugu Port Harcourt has been ongoing, and a journey of two and a half hours would take seven hours.
“Before the president came on board, you wouldn’t travel between Aba and Port Harcourt. Today, one full carriageway is fully completed, and you can engage one.
The Minister added that all the South-East governors are supporting the President because he has provided inclusive governance.
Umahi stated that whereas several past administrations didn’t consider any Easterner for key security positions, President Tinubu appointed them to man strategic security positions such as Chief of Naval Staff,etc. The current Controller – General of the Nigerian Correctional Service hails from Imo state in the South East.
Citing Governor Alex Otti as example, Umahi inferred that the improved performance of governors is predicated on the much enhanced revenue releases to the states by the Federal Government.
“I attended an occasion with Governor Otti and also Senator Abaribe, and he praised Gov Otti very highly for his performances. And of course, I agree totally with him and other people. They love and support the governor because of his capacity and serious shift in terms of dividends of democracy, judging from the past administrations.
“So let me tell Senator Abaribe that the performance of Governor Otti is a product of President Bola Tinubu. If he (Mr. President) didn’t have the audacity and courage to release more money to the governors, gov Otti would not be doing what he’s doing
Reacting to another issue raised by the Senator, Umahi said the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway followed due procurement process, including Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), international stakeholder engagement and evaluation by foreign development finance institutions.
Umahi disclosed that the project was later oversubscribed by international financiers, which he said was proof of its viability and transparency.
“The international funders are not jokers, They confirmed the project was properly packaged, of high quality and even undervalued.”
Umahi dismissed Senator Abaribe’s suggestion that President Tinubu’s re-election would not be supported in 2027, saying the Senator was speaking for himself and not for the South-East.
He explained that governors and many residents of the region were grateful to the President and would support him come 2027 elections.
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He recalled an occasion when Governor Otti, acknowledged in his presence that the sub-nationals are part of the national governments and therefore every success recorded by the governors, and in particular the governor of Abia State is a success that the president has facilitated.
He stated that Senator Abaribe needs to know and be corrected, “And let me also correct him, because he said that they asked me about the procurement of the Lagos-Calabar Highway. In the first instance, he’s a lawmaker, and he has been in the Senate for a very long time. I don’t want to ask what he has achieved for his people, because I’m not part of his people.
“But if we put together what he has achieved, and he’s questioning me, then I have to question what he has achieved because by saying that I didn’t care about the procurement process, it’s an attack on my personality and integrity.
Umahi declared that the worst is over economy -wise. He buttressed the point by referencing improvements in foreign reserves, relative stability of the naira, reduced inflation, falling and social interventions such as NELFUND for students.
He said he welcomes constructive criticism but condemned cyber-bullying and unsubstantiated claims against government officials.