By Chioma Gabriel
Minister of Works, and former governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has dismissed requires a separate Biafran State, saying it’s not warranted, because of what he described because the unprecedented integration of the Igbo into Nigeria’s nationwide improvement agenda underneath President Bola Tinubu.
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Umahi made the remarks whereas inspecting ongoing federal initiatives within the southeast area.
He identified that sentiments of marginalisation, which had fuelled separatist actions, have considerably eased because of substantial federal investments in roads and different vital infrastructure throughout the southeast.
In line with him, “There will likely be no want for Biafra once more,” Umahi stated. “Up to now administration, our folks felt very a lot marginalised and that was the rationale some folks had been agitating for Biafra. However I can say in the present day that we’re nicely built-in into the mainstream of the nation, Nigeria.”
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, describing the South-East as “snug” and “very blissful” with the present administration.
“We’re snug with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We’re very proud of the combination,” he stated.
The minister offered an inventory of ongoing and accomplished federal initiatives within the South-East, emphasising that a lot of them had stagnated for over a decade earlier than the Tinubu administration intervened.
“For greater than 15 years, it has been one authorities that may come and simply do one thing and go. However the part being carried out by MTN underneath RCC goes to be accomplished by February subsequent yr and it’s costing us N202 billion.”
In line with him, one other 72-kilometre street part being dealt with by SKCC at the price of N150 billion has already acquired 30 per cent cost.
“You’ll be able to see the enjoyment of it,” he famous.
Umahi stated the federal authorities is prioritising sturdy infrastructure, significantly concrete roads designed to final between 50 and 100 years.
“The job of constructing roads by Mr President everywhere in the nation is that these roads will final 50 years to 100 years,” he stated, evaluating the initiatives to the continuing coastal freeway.
He listed key initiatives throughout the area, together with the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway; Owerri-Onitsha Expressway; and Part 2B of the Second Niger Bridge, valued at N176 billion.
“You go to Enugu now, you see the Artisan Bridge completed, dusted and delivered,” Umahi stated.
“You go to Depot Junction in Eke-Obinagu, the most important flyover within the South-East is occurring there.”
Different initiatives highlighted embody the Enugu-Abakaliki Highway, costing N172 billion, and what he described as a significant “legacy mission” price N424 billion, overlaying 123 kilometres from Ndibe Seaside in Ebonyi State to the Benue border.
“These are the explanation why I stated we would not have any motive once more to agitate for Biafra,” he declared. “He that has began this nice and delightful factor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he’ll proceed it.”
Umahi argued that political relevance for the South-East needs to be pursued via technique quite than rhetoric.
“We can’t retake our rightful place by sentiment and venomous statements,” he stated. “It’s by realities and being strategic.”
He described his assist for President Tinubu and the current defection of the Enugu State governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as calculated political selections.
“I’m supporting President Bola Tinubu; it’s being strategic. The governor of Enugu State, coming over to APC, is being strategic,” Umahi stated.
Umahi additionally praised governors within the area, significantly his successor in Ebonyi State.
“My governor in Ebonyi State; we’ve this tradition of working with out commissioning, and that’s what my pricey governor is doing,” he stated.
Umahi concluded by framing the second as a turning level for the South-East.
“Even people who don’t need us to take our rightful place as South-East folks, God has opened the time,” he stated.
“That is our time, and that is the time that God has despatched President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reintegrate our folks.”
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