The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, citing his belief in the President’s vision and reforms, while dismissing speculation of a political ‘rainbow coalition’ involving former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in Ebonyi State.
Umahi spoke while inspecting Phase Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado, Benue State, where he reviewed progress on the project and directed contractors to accelerate construction.
On his support for Tinubu, Umahi said continuity was important for major infrastructure projects requiring several years to complete, warning that a change of administration could stall ongoing projects.
‘What gave rise to this is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called by God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms. I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him.
‘If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,’ he said.
Responding to questions about his relationship with Wike and claims that they were forming a ‘Rainbow Coalition’ in Ebonyi, Umahi said any candidates backed by the former governor would not be part of his political structure.
‘If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship,’ he said.
Umahi reaffirmed his alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC), while criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he left after what he described as its failure to adequately serve the interests of the Southeast.
‘We supported the PDP. We voted for presidents in the PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,’ he said.
He, however, said political opponents were free to campaign in Ebonyi provided they avoided hate speech.
‘Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speech and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,’ he said.
The Minister also rejected claims that he had concentrated Federal Government projects in the Southeast, saying the infrastructure programme was a national initiative under Tinubu.
‘I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to the Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge.
‘I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?’ he asked.
According to Umahi, the Southeast was receiving infrastructure attention as part of the national distribution of projects, although it might not rank first, second or third under the administration.
‘But definitely they will not be the last,’ he said.
He said the administration’s performance should be assessed through projects already under execution rather than promises.
‘We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,’ he said.
On the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, Umahi directed contractors handling the 173-kilometre Phase Two, valued at ?683 billion, not to demolish or touch any building along the current alignment pending the Federal Government’s review and any necessary realignment.
‘My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,’ he said.
He also directed contractors to strengthen sharp curves where necessary and open at least three sections of the first element of Phase Two simultaneously to accelerate construction.
Umahi said the contractor had opened the first element of the first eight kilometres, while engineers were working to resolve the challenge around the Ado Bridge.
‘I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,’ he said, directing the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while engineers worked on the bridge solution.
The Minister also highlighted additional works under Section One, including dualisation at Onueke and Chainage 0 around Ndibe Beach, which he said were outside the initial scope.
He said the project was being executed under an EPC Plus Finance arrangement without provision for variations, requiring careful management of quantities and resources.
Umahi said four legacy infrastructure projects under the Tinubu administration were being financed through 30 per cent naira funding by the Federal Government and 70 per cent foreign financing.
He also rejected suggestions that the administration had abandoned existing roads for new projects, saying several legacy projects involved the expansion and reconstruction of existing road corridors.