Tinubu: The President Has Changed The Narrative; No Igbo Man Has Ever Been Minister Of Works — Umahi

Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has predicted that the Southeast will show greater support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, citing what he described as improvements in infrastructure development and a fairer allocation of federal projects under the current administration.

Umahi made the statement during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, October 23, 2026, where he discussed the Tinubu administration’s relationship with the Southeast and the possible impact of federal infrastructure investments on the region’s political choices ahead of the next presidential election.

The minister acknowledged that voters in the Southeast had reasons to reject the ruling party during the 2023 general election. He argued that the region had felt neglected under the previous administration because of what he described as inadequate federal appointments and a lack of significant infrastructure projects.

“Confident in the sense that in 2023, the past administration did not treat the Southeast fairly. We had no meaningful appointments. There was no infrastructure in our zone, and so they had the right to vote against the ruling party then,” Umahi said.

However, he maintained that the situation had improved since Tinubu assumed office, pointing to the distribution of infrastructure projects as evidence that the Southeast was receiving greater attention from the Federal Government.

According to Umahi, although the region may not be leading other parts of the country in infrastructure development, it has moved away from the position he believes it previously occupied. He urged residents to acknowledge the changes he said were taking place rather than dismissing the administration’s efforts.

“But now things have changed. We are not the first in terms of infrastructure development in our region. We are not the second. We are not at the top, but we are not the last. And so, when things begin to change, our people must understand and appreciate it,” he stated.

Umahi also argued that Tinubu had changed the political narrative in the Southeast by providing opportunities for the region to participate in the Federal Government’s decision-making process. He said the performance of an administration should not be judged solely by whether someone from the Igbo ethnic group occupies the presidency.

“The president has changed the narrative. Why are we talking about the presidency alone? No Igbo man has ever been Minister of Works,” the minister said.

He highlighted his appointment as Minister of Works, describing the position as an important opportunity for the Southeast to benefit from federal infrastructure investment. Umahi noted that the ministry oversees major road projects across the country and said his position had helped the region secure projects under Tinubu’s administration.

“This my own Minister of Works is not a small Minister of Works because, through the magnanimity of Mr President, through his fairness in infrastructure distribution, we have gotten our own share of these projects,” he said.

The former Ebonyi governor further explained that he was working to ensure that infrastructure projects in the Southeast were spread across all five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. He said the aim was to prevent the benefits of federal investment from being concentrated in particular areas while other communities remained underserved.

According to Umahi, priority was being given to major infrastructure projects that connect communities and improve movement between states across the region. He maintained that a wider distribution of such projects would help strengthen connectivity and demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to development in the Southeast.

“I’m also very fair in making sure it covers the entire Southeast, and then we’ve taken majorly the most important projects that connect all the communities and all the states in the Southeast,” he added.

Umahi concluded by expressing confidence that the region would respond positively to what he described as Tinubu’s efforts to improve infrastructure development and address concerns about regional inclusion. He suggested that these developments could influence voters as they consider their options in the 2027 presidential election.

“So, by what the president has done, it has changed the narrative, and the Southeast is going to pay the president very well,” he concluded.

Watch the video HERE from minutes 51:17 to 51:26:

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