In Just 2 Years In Office
In the last few months, there have been rising agitations from several parts of the south east directed to the President. Many of the Igbos have not been happy with the President. They are very angry. While some south easterners believe that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fair to the Igbos, putting in place impressive infrastructure that many found unprecedented considering that the region totally voted against him during the 2023 presidential election, others do not see anything significant that government has done. They insist the eastern region has been abandoned and deliberately neglected. And for this reason, they have vowed to vote massively against the ruling party come 2027 just like they did in 2023.
Interestingly, quite a handful of Igbo personalities have made concerted efforts to explain the fact of the situation to their people and show to them the many things the president has done for the Igbos in the last two years. Leading the charge for the Igbos support for the President come 2027 is the Minister for Works, Dave Umahi. He has taken advantage of every opportunity available to him to present facts to the Igbos showing that they have in no way been marginalised under the President Tinubu led administration. He consistyently lists out major infrastructural projects going on in different parts of the east. Others like Anambra state governor, Charles Soludo, Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, have also been consistent in their call for Igbos to support and embrace the President on account of the remrkable things he has done for the region within the last two years that he assumed office. But to those who have expressed in clear terms their dislike for the president, none of these explanations holds water.
The latest Igbo personality to come out to speak passionately to his kinsmen is celebrated Nollywood Icon, Zack Orji. He also recently joined the list of Igbo prominent personalities persuading the easterners and Nigerians at large to support the government of President Tinubu. Expectedly, this very profound call for support of Mr. President by Zack Orji has not gone down well with the Igbos but he does not seem to mind. This, indeed, is not the first time he would be coming out to solicit support for the President. And with the video having gone viral, it is understandable the volume of scathing attacks the celebrated actor has come under in the last few days from his own people.
In the said video, Zack Orji began by greeting Nigerians. He then went on to state his mission: “It is 55 and a half years since the Nigerian civil war ended and for the first time since the war ended in the history of this country, a president in the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) along with its subsidiary, the Southeast Investment Company, with a take-off capital of N150 billion.”
“Today, the Southeast has a Minister of Works for the first time in the person of His Excellency Engineer David Umahi, former governor of Ebonyi State. President Tinubu has also approved the allocation of three billion dollars for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the long-abandoned eastern rail line corridor, to boost transport and economic activity.”
He went further. “In the words of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the era of infrastructure marginalisation, isolation and neghlect is over, marking the beginning of a new chapter of transformation, inclusion and nationwide connectivity.”
“The Southeast today is witnessing a new wave of federal attention and infrastructure development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The main objectives of the Southeast Development Commission are to drive sustainable growth, promote investment, support infrastructure development and improve the standard of living in the Southeast region.”
“And the overall vision is to position the Southeast as the preferred investment destination in Africa by 2035. The President’s Southeast Superhighway project is another landmark legacy project that will end infrastructure marginalisation in the Southeast. Ladies and gentlemen, the Bible says in the book of John 8.32, Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. And in the book of Isaiah 1.18, the Bible says, come now and let us reason together”, Orji noted.
The celebrated actor continued: “These landmark legacy projects in the south east truly encapsulate the three ‘R’ concept which was voiced soon after the Nigerian civil war, that is Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. In addition to south easdt region, there are other landmark projects going on in other geopolitical regions of this country. What can we say in respect of all of these? Fellow Nigerians, relax, President Tinubu is fixing Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, well done and we appreciate you big time. May God almighty continue to keep you, inspire you, strengthen you, sustain you, lift you and perfect and embellish everything that concerns you and your dreams and aspirations for this country in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour.”
Those who have been following closely the infrastructural developments steadily taking place in the east have come out to applaud the effort of Zack Orji. They agree with him totally that the President has not done badly for the south east in only two years.
Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, also recently echoed the sentiments of Zack Orji and Umahi. He says President Bola Tinubu is the only commander-in-chief to remember the Igbo ethnic group since the civil war.
“The president has tried for Ndigbo. He is still trying for Ndigbo. He is the only man that remembered Ndigbo after 54 years that a promise of reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation was made to Ndigbo,” Kalu said. Yakubu Gowon, former military ruler, launched the three Rs programme — reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration — to heal and rebuild the country after the civil war which lasted from July 6, 1967 to January 13, 1970.
Kalu said the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration of the south-east has just started with the establishment of the SEDC.
“He came with the spirit of equity and fairness. He is a leader who believes in development. He signed the SEDC bill into law so that the damage caused by the civil war will be rebuilt,” the deputy speaker added.
“As the leader of our party, he has asked us to galvanise the grassroots and bring them closer to the politics of development that he is bringing to Igbo land.”
It must also be noted that, contrary to the narrative that only about five Igbos havbe been appointed into different positions under President Tinubu, there are actually about seventeen Igbos in the government. And for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the South east has been given a top ministerial position such as the Minister of Works held by Dave Umahi. Below is the full list of appointments from the South East:
(1) Dr. Doris Anite Uzoka-Minister of State for Finance (2) Bianca Ojukwu-Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (3) Nkeiru Onyejiocha-Minister of State for Labour (4) Sen. Dave Umahi-Minister of Works (5) Dr. Uche Nnaji-Minister of Science and Technology (6) Uzoma Nwagba- MD, Credicorp (7) Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka-Managing Director, Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (8) Adesua Dozie-Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, NNPCL (9) Hon. Mark Okoye-MD/CEO, South-East Development Commission (SEDC) (10) Philip Ikeazor -Deputy Governor for Financial System Stability, CBN (11) Sophia Mbakwe -Executive Vice President of Business Services, NNPCL (12) Mr. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu-Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment (13) Chioma Nweze -SSAP on Community Engagement (14) Kingsley Stanley Nkwocha-SSA to the President, Media and Communication (Office of VP) (15) Kingsley Uzoma-SSA to the President on Agribusiness & Productivity Enhancement (Office of VP) (16) Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo-SSA to the President on Public Engagement.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the region is also enjoying huge transformation in terms of road infrastructure. The Minister of Works has been busy overseeing massive road projects going on in the several parts of the East.
The Minister himself, at several fora, has hailed the impact of President Bola Tinubu in the Southeast and the entire country in general.
He credited Tinubu with reversing years of federal neglect in the Southeast.
“Before now, many Southeast states had no federal projects. But today, the federal presence is visible across the region. That is true national integration,” Umahi said.
For instance, the 107 km dual-carriage Enugu-Onitsha Expressway is being reconstructed under MTN’s Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment (Tax Credit) Scheme. Initially delayed due to cost variations, the project is now progressing, with construction 50-70% complete as of March 25, 2025.
The Federal Ministry of Works has set a May 10, 2026, deadline for completion. The project is expected to enhance connectivity and boost economic activities in the Southeast region. The Minister of Works has emphasized that MTN will be held accountable for any structural failures, ensuring RCC Company Nig. Ltd. adheres strictly to contract terms, with no cost variations allowed unless contractually justified.
The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway connects Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo, and Rivers, strengthening regional trade and mobility.
The 56.10-kilometre Umuahia-Aba section (Section II) is undergoing rehabilitation and reconstruction, with the Federal Government setting a June 2025 completion deadline. Minister of Works David Umahi has instructed Arab Contractors (Nig.) Ltd. to complete earthworks by April 2025, with only two kilometres of earthwork and four kilometres of asphalt work remaining.
Umahi revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made adequate budgetary provisions in the 2024 and 2025 budgets to ensure the project’s timely completion.
The aforementioned is the reason why many do not agree with persons from the south east who claim the President has done nothing for the south east. But the imprints of the government in several parts of the region appear unhidden, crystal clear, yet unseen and unappreciated by many Ndigbo. Some say the president is gradually winning the Igbos over. Others disagree. They insist even if the president lines up the streets of the eastern region with gold and massive infrastructure, it is a waste of time because the Igbos have their preferred choice of president. No matter what the President does, they will not give him their votes. But 2027 is still fairly a long time away, there is still time for the Tinubu administration to prove to the Igbos that they have nothing to fear, that they are under the care of a president who loves them just as he does his own people.
– WALE LAWAL (08037209290)
