The people of the South East will dump their own son, Peter Obi, and vote for President Bola Tinubu in next year's election. That's the claim from Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who spoke while inspecting federal roads in Ebonyi on Saturday evening.

Umahi said it was a mistake for the region to vote for Obi in 2023. He argued that Tinubu has delivered what previous governments didn't — road projects first conceived during the colonial era but never built.

The minister pointed to the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as proof. He called it a "colonial-era dream long forgotten" that Tinubu has revived. Construction is now underway.

"It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely," Umahi said.

Section One of the highway, originally 118 kilometres, has been extended to 123.6 kilometres. The contract sum is ₦45 billion, and dualisation works are ongoing.

Section Two runs from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi States to Nasarawa. It was awarded at ₦668 billion. Some areas have reached about 28% completion, with work continuing even during the rainy season.

Umahi credited Tinubu's adoption of concrete road technology for the progress. He said the technology, first used by Tinubu as governor of Lagos, is now being deployed nationwide.

The Trans-Saharan Superhighway is more than a road, Umahi explained. It's an investment corridor that will boost trade in agricultural produce like cassava, yams, cashews, and palm oil from Cross River, Benue, and Ebonyi. It will also connect Nigeria to Cameroon.

Umahi expressed the gratitude of the South East to Tinubu for ending decades of exclusion. "All our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now," he said.

During the tour, Umahi was joined by acting Federal Controller in Ebonyi State, Engr. Maxwell Okoh, and Mohammed Mustafa, Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited, the contractor for the superhighway. They inspected critical bridges in Section One and the concrete pavement on the Onueke section.

They also inspected the 1.3-kilometre Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo LGA, Ebonyi, which links Ugep in Cross River State. It's expected to be completed by December 2026.

At the Onueke Flyover in Ebonyi's Central Senatorial District, Umahi noted that the ₦35 billion project stands 90 metres high. It's flanked by a 2.2-kilometre road on both sides and designed to decongest the highway.

The team also inspected the completed concrete pavement link road between Ebonyi and Cross River States, particularly from Okposi-Ukawu in Oha-Zara Local Government of Ebonyi and Ugwulangu-Abaomege in Ugep Local Government of Cross River State.

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, who received the media delegation in Abakaliki, declared his state the safest in Nigeria. He said no kidnapping cases have been reported since he assumed office.

Nwifuru thanked Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure in the South East, especially in Ebonyi. He highlighted numerous completed and ongoing projects in the state, including rural roads, primary health centres, and water schemes.

"We have kept contractors busy in the state with projects spread across every local government area, from rural roads to primary health centres and water schemes. We don't even view the road projects as a big deal because we have road projects scattered all over the state," Nwifuru said.

South East governors and leaders are scheduled to converge in Abakaliki on Monday at a major rally to endorse Tinubu for a second term. Umahi said Nwifuru would lead the people of Ebonyi State at the rally to show appreciation to Tinubu.

Umahi urged Ebonyi citizens to ignore the ranting of opposition politicians who can't match Tinubu's record.

The National Media Tour is organised by the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led Renewed Hope Ambassadors, in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.