ADC chieftain knocks Umahi over remarks on South-East marginalisation

A prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State, Comrade Adolphus Ude, has criticised the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, over his assertion that Igbos are satisfied with what he described as the inclusive governance of President Bola Tinubu.

Ude, who labelled Umahi an “efulefu” (slave), accused him of serving interests that are shortchanging Ndigbo.

Reacting to Umahi’s comments, Ude—who is the pioneer Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State and now coordinator of ADC Enugu Like Minds—maintained that the South-east remains deeply marginalised under the Tinubu administration.

Umahi had made the remarks a few days ago while inspecting ongoing federal infrastructure projects in the South-east, where he linked the agitation for Biafra to alleged marginalisation of Igbos. The former Ebonyi State governor, however, insisted that the South-east is now fully integrated into national life and that the people are happy and comfortable with Tinubu’s leadership.

But in a press statement issued on Thursday, Ude dismissed Umahi’s position as misleading, selfish and unwarranted, saying it does not reflect the true feelings of the people of the South-east.

According to the ADC stalwart, Igbo marginalisation has not reduced but has instead intensified since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, particularly in the areas of federal appointments and allocation of infrastructure.

While stressing that members of Enugu ADC Like Minds believe in a united and indivisible Nigeria and do not support any form of secessionist agitation, Ude outrightly rejected Umahi’s claim that Igbos are pleased with what he termed the President’s inclusive governance.

He posed a series of questions: “Which of the long-standing grievances of the South East region has the Tinubu administration addressed? What has the Tinubu government done for the Igbos, different from what successive governments did?

“Which inclusive governance is the ‘efulefu’ Minister talking about when the entire South East was excluded from the two outrageously priced signature road infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration – the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway – both awarded to the controversial Hitech Construction Company Limited?”

Ude further lamented that none of the multi-trillion-naira signature road projects of the Tinubu administration cuts across any of the five South-east states—Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi—not even as bypasses.

He also expressed concern that none of the ongoing federal road projects inherited by the Tinubu administration in the South-east over two and a half years ago has been completed, citing slow progress on the Enugu-Port Harcourt, Owerri-Onitsha and Enugu-Onitsha expressways.

He added: “In January 2024, Umahi told us that the Federal Government had commenced the Ninth Mile-Enugu-Makurdi Highway. Almost two years after, the Enugu-Axis, which is within the South East remains in a decrepit state.

“Umahi claimed that these concrete roads when completed, will last 50-100 years. Whether they will last forever or not, let him complete them first before talking about how long the roads will last.”

An apparently angered Ude also referred to media reports from a few months ago indicating that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved projects worth about N3.9 trillion for Lagos State alone within two years. He challenged Umahi to disclose the total value of federal road projects currently ongoing across the entire South-east to justify claims of inclusion.

Ude cautioned the Works Minister against making statements he described as reckless and potentially harmful to Igbo interests, warning that no responsible politician toys with the destiny of his own people.

He further argued that without equity, fairness and justice in infrastructure distribution, Nigeria cannot achieve balanced development, noting that the absence of these elements would continue to fuel agitation and unrest.

Beyond infrastructure, Ude said the South-east has also suffered severe marginalisation in ministerial appointments and other federal positions under the Tinubu administration.

“Ogun state alone has four ministerial positions, one shy of the five ministerial positions given to the entire South-East region by the Tinubu administration, just as the region was marginalized in the appointment of heads of major parastatals and agencies,” he stated.