Minister of Works David Umahi has urged people in the South-East to vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, saying the region must appreciate the administration for the infrastructure projects being executed across the zone.
Umahi made the call while highlighting the Federal Government’s ongoing projects in the South-East and urging residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid to ensure that the region continues to benefit from what he described as the dividends of democracy.
The minister said, “We have taken our pride of place in the affairs of Nigeria. South East people must vote for the president. This is what I am educating them.”
Umahi also addressed criticism directed at him over his continued support for Tinubu, saying he was not bothered by those who insulted him.
He said, “If you are ins¥lting me, it’s not my business because, you know, you can’t face me face to face and ins¥lt me. You can only do that at my back. You know. So it makes me happy that I’m taking your sleep. It makes me happy that I’m taking your attention. But the truth remains the truth.”
The former Ebonyi State governor further urged residents of the region to vote for Tinubu in 2027, arguing that continued support would help sustain the projects being carried out by the Federal Government.
Umahi said, “Vote for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 so that these dividends of democracy will continue even in an improved form.”
He also called on the people of the South-East to show gratitude to the president, particularly over what he described as increased federal attention to the region.
“And remember, that man was made in the image of, you know, God. God appreciates appreciation, gratitude. We have to show gratitude to the president,” he said.
Umahi further warned voters against staying away from polling units and later complaining about the outcome of elections.
He said, “Let it not be during voting you are playing football. Then tomorrow you start to come and complain. It is not acceptable.”
The minister also compared the current level of federal infrastructure spending in the South-East with previous administrations, arguing that the region had not previously received a similar level of attention.
“I was governor. I was deputy governor. I was party chairman. Never in the history of south east did we witness even 5 percent of federal budget in Southeast. And so we are witnessing this. The road is being fixed and then you just take it for granted. You say it’s what he’s supposed to do What of the people that are supposed to do it that didn’t do it? did they give you change?”
Umahi maintained that criticism of Tinubu would not affect the president’s chances in the 2027 election.
He concluded, “If you are ins¥lting us, ins¥lting the president, it doesn’t stop him from winning. He will still win. But we are asking a lot of our people to get.”
