Minister of Works, Davide Umahi. By John Alechenu
ABUJA — Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, cannot win the 2027 presidential election. Umahi stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a report from the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, on its nationwide tour of federal roads. The minister urged leaders in the South-East to speak to the people about what he described as the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the region.
He said, “The more we educate our people, the less votes Peter Obi will get. Peter Obi cannot win in 2027. “It is important for the leaders of the South-East to be bold, vocal and speak to our people, the Igbos, about what President Tinubu has done and is doing for the Igbos.”
Umahi also expressed support for Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, over his backing for Tinubu, saying supporters of the President should be allowed to express their political preferences.
“I support the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, for his boldness in supporting the President. People should stop insulting supporters of the President; people should be allowed to support him,” he said. The minister also said the Federal Government had undertaken projects and made appointments that, according to him, demonstrated its inclusion of the South-East. “No other President has done what President Tinubu has done for the South-East, whether by appointment, inclusion or projects,” Umahi said. He added that infrastructure such as roads and bridges was important to economic development. On the financing of legacy projects, Umahi said the Federal Government would provide 30 per cent of the cost, while the balance would come from loans to be repaid through tolling.
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“The Federal Government is providing 30 per cent of the funds and the remaining balance is from loans which will be payable by tolling,” he said. The minister also decried vandalism and reckless driving on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He said some individuals had been removing materials installed for road demarcation and manhole covers, while motorists also engaged in excessive speeding along the route. “People cut the iron we used for demarcation, remove manhole covers and even overspeed.
This is unacceptable,” Umahi said. Earlier, NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said the North-West leg of the students’ road tour covered Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Sokoto states. He said the students inspected the Kano-Maiduguri, Kano-Katsina, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Mando-Birnin Gwari, Sokoto-Badagry and Illela-Dukamaje roads, which connect more than 10 tertiary institutions.
Afeez said NANS was impressed by the scale, quality and pace of work observed during the tour. He, however, recommended the construction of a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College, Kaduna, to improve students’ safety.
