Umahi to Methodist Bishops Tinubu Changes Narrative in South East

 

Umahi to Methodist Bishops Tinubu Changes Narrative in South East

By Our Reporter

Abuja (Core Reporters) The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, has called on Nigerians, particularly people of the Southeast, to recognise and appreciate the infrastructure investments of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the President has “changed the narrative” of development in the region.

Umahi made the call on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, when Bishops and Archbishops of the Methodist Church from the Southeast paid him a courtesy visit at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works.

Speaking during the visit, the Minister said the Southeast had experienced marginalisation in the past, but stressed that the situation should not prevent the people from acknowledging the scale of ongoing federal infrastructure development under President Tinubu.

“Yes, I agree that in the past there was so much marginalisation of the Igbo everywhere, not just the Southeast, but President Bola Tinubu has changed the narrative,” Umahi said.

According to him, the Federal Government is currently working across the country because of the President’s commitment to infrastructure development, adding that the appointment of a Minister of Works from the Southeast had also provided an opportunity to accelerate projects in the region.

“We are working everywhere in Nigeria because of who the President is,” he said, adding, “If we didn’t get a Minister of Works, and if we didn’t have President Bola Tinubu, I don’t know whether we would have changed the narrative in the Southeast.”

Umahi urged the people of the Southeast to continue demanding more development while also appreciating what is already being done.

“We can be looking for more. I agree. We can demand more so that we can meet up with the past marginalisation, but it shouldn’t make us not be appreciative,” he said.

Using the biblical account of the ten lepers healed by Jesus Christ, the Minister said appreciation was important in ensuring that the wounds of the past were gradually healed.

He said, “Man was created in the image of God,” stressing that just as one of the ten lepers returned to appreciate Christ after being healed, Nigerians should also acknowledge positive developments while continuing to seek greater progress.

Umahi said the Southeast had not supported President Tinubu at the polls as much as it should have, but argued that the President’s actions since assuming office shows his willingness to develop the region.

“We didn’t vote for the President as we should, and he’s doing all these things for us,” he said.

He therefore appealed to the people of the Southeast to support the President’s administration and ensure that the infrastructure projects already underway are completed.

“The prayers you want to do should be for the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Umahi said, adding that his own major concern was to ensure that the projects initiated under the administration were completed.

“I said I’m on the ballot. When the President has won, I have won,” he declared, explaining that his greatest desire was to see the projects being executed across the country completed.

“If these projects are completed, we will never be the same again,” he said.

The Minister highlighted several major road and bridge projects in the Southeast which he said would significantly improve transportation, economic activity and connectivity when completed.

He pointed to the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, noting that for many years travellers had endured extremely long journey times on the route.

“In Enugu-Port Harcourt, for more than 18 years, nobody has spent less than seven hours to do that short journey,” he said, stressing that the road was now undergoing reconstruction, including sections being executed with reinforced concrete pavement.

He also cited the Enugu-Onitsha corridor, Enugu-Abakaliki Road, the Eke-Obinagu Flyover in Enugu and the Second Niger Bridge as examples of infrastructure projects changing the transportation landscape of the Southeast.

According to Umahi, motorists who previously spent several hours in traffic around Eke-Obinagu can now use the completed flyover, which he described as the longest flyover in the area.

On the Niger Bridge, he recalled that President Tinubu had responded immediately when concerns emerged over the First Niger Bridge.

“When we heard of the First Niger Bridge, the President immediately directed that it should be shut down,” Umahi said, explaining that rehabilitation work had continued day and night.

He disclosed that the bridge was expected to be commissioned on Wednesday and would feature solar lighting and CCTV surveillance, describing it as being of a standard comparable with the Third Mainland Bridge.

The Minister also spoke about what the third legacy project, the major highway corridor connecting Calabar through Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi towards Abuja.

He disclosed that the first two sections, covering about 330 kilometres, had already been awarded and paid for by the Federal Government.

Umahi said the completion of the project would dramatically reduce travel time from parts of the Southeast to Abuja.

“Those from Enugu can join at Nsukka Axis, and then they will now be in Abuja within three hours,” he said.

“For those of us in Ebonyi, we can be in Abuja within four hours. What are we going to do with the plane again? Nobody will miss the plane again,” he added.

He said the scale of the infrastructure programme demonstrated why political sentiments should not prevent Nigerians from recognising development taking place across the country.

“Sentiments must be laid aside. We have to count our blessings,” Umahi said.

Umahi said political participation should be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria, adding that political relationships built today could benefit the Southeast in the future.

“Our time will come. When the time comes, God will do it, and Nigerians will support us,” he said.

He also disclosed his intention to travel across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of an effort to educate and sensitise Nigerians on the infrastructure projects and the need for continued support for President Tinubu.

“I am going to tour the entire 36 states and Abuja,” he said.

According to the Minister, the Southeast must understand the importance of being part of the central government, particularly when major infrastructure and development decisions are being made.

“The most important thing is to be part of the central government because a lot of people are making noise. Let them say what they have brought to Ala-Igbo. That is the most important thing,” he said.

Umahi stressed that his position was not driven by personal animosity towards Peter Obi, whom he described as a very close friend, but by what he believes is the need for Nigerians to distinguish between saving public funds and investing them in projects that improve lives and grow the economy. “I am not against Peter Obi. He is my very close friend. I sent him a birthday message, and he sent me one during my own,” the Minister said, while cautioning that Nigerians should not be deceived by the idea that keeping government money unused automatically amounts to good governance. Drawing from the biblical parable of the talents, Umahi argued that public resources should be deployed productively to build roads, airports, seaports, industries and other infrastructure that create jobs and expand economic opportunities. “You can’t be saving food for tomorrow when the children are hungry,” he said, stressing that the real value of public funds lies in using them to address immediate infrastructure needs and create lasting economic benefits. Speaking from his experience as a businessman and former party chairman, deputy governor, governor, senator and now Minister of Works, Umahi said his experience in both business and public administration had reinforced his conviction that productive investment in infrastructure is essential to development.

The Minister said infrastructure spending could generate employment, improve security, shorten travel distances, expand commercial activity and contribute to economic growth.

“We are borrowing to put in infrastructure, and this infrastructure, it is an investment,” Umahi said.

He cited ongoing road construction, including projects in Kebbi, as examples of infrastructure creating jobs and stimulating economic activity.

“It is also fighting insecurity. It’s shortening the distance between communities. It’s creating a revolution in our GDP and then commercial activities,” he said.

Umahi said the Federal Government’s long-term objective was not simply to construct roads but to develop economic corridors around them.

“When we finish, then we will now build infrastructure along the corridor. Nigeria will never be the same again,” he said.

He called on church leaders and other stakeholders to help educate the people about the projects and the opportunities they could create.

“What we are looking for is infrastructure, appointments, development, good governance,” he said.

The Minister also commended the governors of the Southeast for supporting the President, saying their experience enabled them to understand the importance of working with the Federal Government.

“I commend Southeast governors. They are all supporting the President, whether they are vocal about it or not. But they know because they are experienced. They understand,” he said.

He urged church leaders to help correct misinformation and ensure that young people in particular understood the extent of the infrastructure development taking place in the region.

“We need more, and we will come together as a people to meet the President and thank him for what he has done, and then table our problems to him,” he said.

“We need understanding, we need wisdom, we need knowledge.”

The Methodist delegation, led by the Methodist Church Archbishop of Anambra State, Most. Revd. Dr. Vincent C. E. Onoh, commended Tinubu for what they described as his remarkable infrastructure contributions to the Southeast and Nigeria.

He said they have also come to appreciate Mr President and Umahi for the work they are doing, particularly in the Southeast.

“Sometimes people wouldn’t even know where we start when we want to talk about you, but we have just come as a church to appreciate you for the work you are doing, not only in entire Nigeria, but particularly in the Southeast,” he said.

The Archbishop specifically praised the progress on the Niger Bridge, saying: “The work on the Niger Bridge is 90% done.”

He added that visitors who saw the project often expressed surprise that such infrastructure was being constructed in Nigeria.

“I won’t talk of the coastal line and all that goes with it. We just want to appreciate God that He raised a man like you in our own time,” Onoh said.

He said the Methodist Church had come to honour Umahi in recognition of his contribution to infrastructure development.

According to him, although the church does not traditionally confer traditional titles, Umahi’s work had earned him significant recognition among the people.

“Because the church doesn’t give traditional title, I will have given you the title of Olu Atugwu 1. Yes, your name is there. The work is there, and it’s a household name,” he said.

Archbishop Onoh also announced plans for a prayer and sensitisation project beginning in Awka and moving through Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, with the expectation of attracting more than 5,000 people at each major gathering.

He said the initiative would focus on returning people to God and strengthening the spiritual foundation of society.

The Archbishop prayed that God would continue to give Umahi wisdom, strength and the right timing to execute his responsibilities.

He also recalled Umahi’s record as Governor of Ebonyi State, saying his impact in the state remained visible.

“We have just come as a church to say thank you for what you have done, thank you for what you are doing, and let’s thank you for what we are yet to do,” Onoh concluded.