Umahi has Worked More than Obi for Southeast, Says Francis

Valentine Obienyem in his article titled “Dave Umahi and Incestuous Reasoning” praises Peter Obi as a model while offering no proof of what he delivered for Ebonyians or Ndigbo. That is the arithmetic of selective inclusion: Obi receives the credit for emptiness; Umahi receives the insults for the result delivered.
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Beneath the rhetoric is a simple question he has refused to answer: What did Obi do for Ebonyians and the wider Igbo community that makes him the standard by which Umahi must be judged, or the candidate they should be expected to support?

However, I agree with some of his comments, especially when he said that Obi happened by circumstances. I feel this is truly the finger of God speaking through him. If not, what else could anyone say the phenomenon around Obi was about, if not the accident of EndSARS?

There is a saying that if one does not know where to place his hand, he holds his knees. That is exactly what happened with Obi and Obidients.

Now, the masses have seen what they consider the emptiness in all the struggles, the fake life, the false, the emptiness of promises and the contradictions in many of his speeches. The anger is that the truth is now becoming visible to many, and the rejection of Obi by those who have seen the light of day is becoming clearer. I understand his pain.

Obienyem begins by protesting that the Obidients do not attack people merely for opposing Peter Obi. But why make that defence unless the charge has a basis? His own words confirm the very conduct he tries to excuse. Attacks happen, he says, when they decide who to attack.

In other words, Obi’s supporters decide which disagreement deserves punishment. What a distasteful confirmation. A group that cannot tolerate opposition without branding its critics enemies of reason is not above reproach; it is simply a political attack dog. We are pleased to get your confirmation.

For clarification, let me mention and confirm that what Umahi said was that Ebonyi State would not vote for Peter Obi because he would not win. This does not exclude Ebonyi State from the Southeast.

He was particular about Ebonyi State because he was addressing Ebonyians at the time of his visit to the state, especially concerning the treatment meted out to Ebonyians living in Anambra State and the discrimination against them during Obi’s tenure as Governor, as well as Obi’s silence when major issues and struggles, such as the renaming of Abakaliki Street, were being discussed.

On several occasions, Umahi has told the people of the Southeast to utilise their votes and not waste them on Obi’s political venture, which will eventually fail. That is his advice and those are the words of wisdom which I equally encourage Obienyem to consider by looking inward, being realistic and possibly towing the same line.

I took time to go through his poorly constructed write-up to see whether he was able to mention Obi’s inclusiveness of Ebonyians in his cabinet or leadership circle. I was disappointed when I discovered that he was only able to mention that some of Obi’s security details were from Ebonyi State. What a disappointment.

It only confirms Umahi’s argument that the people of Ebonyi State were taken for granted, except when it came to security personnel who were naturally posted to serve their country in Anambra State. He could have equally mentioned that they were his house helps, but I understand his pain.

The reality today is that such an arrangement is no longer enough for Ebonyi State. The state has moved forward in pursuit of its own development and is not waiting for him and their ill plots.

Can he confirm whether people from Ebonyi State occupied or held any serious positions in Anambra State during Obi’s tenure as Governor, just as was the case during Umahi’s tenure in Ebonyi State?

Umahi’s record is easier to name.
Anambra-born Charles Emeka Akpuenika served as Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports. Rose Ezeadikwa served with the State Universal Basic Education Board. Mr. Chinaco Nzeakor was Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Security. Rev. Euphraim Ononye served as Chairman of the Ebonyi State Pilgrims Board, while Uchem Oka was a Technical Assistant to the Governor.

These were people from Anambra who served in Umahi’s administration during his time as Governor.

That is the contrast Obienyem avoids. He praises Obi’s with anecdotes but does not produce a comparable list of Ebonyians appointed to meaningful roles under Obi.

I also want to agree with him when he said:

“In a breathless rush to make Ebonyi outpace its peers, he (Umahi) engaged in ‘vanity’ projects…”

Those words are correct, but perhaps not in the way he intended them, though with a mix of his attack-dog mentality.

He understands that Umahi was in a hurry to develop Ebonyi State while serving as Governor. Obi, on the other hand, took the opposite approach in Anambra. He can make his own assessment of the consequences, including the argument that funds that could have been used for development were kept idle while the state incurred debts and contractors were issued postdated cheques. All thanks to the leaders who came after him, who have continued to do everything possible to move Anambra forward.

Ibadan-Ijebu Ode

Let me tell him a little about how Umahi transformed Ebonyi State and pursued his aim of moving the state ahead of its peers. Umahi embarked on the construction of 14 twin flyovers at strategic locations, each of which was valued at between ₦1.8 billion and ₦2.5 billion at the time. This is something you should verify for yourself. Today, those same flyovers, if reconstructed at current costs, would cost between N15 billion and N30 billion. Many were achieved through direct labour. This is part of Umahi’s record. This is how he saved money for Ebonyians. This is the development we are talking about.

When he built the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, the same philosophy was applied: achieving major projects with limited resources. Then there is the airport, which is at the stage of recommencing commercial flights. There is the Ebonyi State International Shopping Mall. There is the introduction of concrete roads across Ebonyi State, which has helped reduce the burden of road reconstruction on the current administration. These are just a few examples.

It does not appear that he did enough research before writing about Umahi. He need to go back and verify these things before attempting to speak about his record.

Yes, I remember that he earlier classified the Obidients as “attack dogs.” That was an interesting read.

In the Southeast, he should also acknowledge what Umahi has done through the instrumentality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the transformation of federal roads across the region. He is focused on deliberately connecting the Southeast to the Centre.

I am certain that it gives him some satisfaction when travelling from Enugu to Onitsha, both at night and during the day, and see the solar lights, the tree planting, the reinforced concrete pavement and the CCTV infrastructure underway. Yet he chose not to mention these in his write-up. Why?

The Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, the Eke-Obinagu Flyover, the access roads to the Second Niger Bridge, the repair and reconstruction of the First Niger Bridge and, very importantly, the Calabar-Ebonyi-Enugu-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway are all part of the infrastructure transformation currently taking place in Igboland courtesy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Umahi. These are tangible projects. They are visible. They are projects people can see, feel and touch.

So, the question remains: What has Obi done for the people of the Southeast that should make them abandon what they are seeing and experiencing for something they have not seen? What has he done that is comparable to the visible and tangible infrastructure now being delivered in the region? That is the question he should answer.

David Umahi has served as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor of Ebonyi State, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator representing Ebonyi South and, today, Nigeria’s Minister of Works.

Peter Obi’s principal record in elected office is his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, he is not close to the breadth of Umahi’s political and public-service experience and result, particularly with Umahi now responsible for Nigeria’s works portfolio.

The references to Umahi’s family and to Mary Habila’s death do not provide the needed answers to the question asked.

Habila’s death has been publicly discussed, and her parents also spoke about her health condition while she was alive. It should not be turned into a political prop.

By using such words as “Judas,” “mad dog,” “crude” and “nonsense,” Obienyem has confirmed himself as an attack dog. Those are not arguments; they are personal attacks. What a distasteful confirmation.

The comparison remains clear. Umahi has demonstrated an approach to public service that has included people from different parts of the Southeast, infrastructure development in Ebonyi, regional leadership through the Southeast Governors’ Forum, representation in the Senate and, now, responsibility for a federal ministry whose projects reach across the Southeast and the country.

Obi offers a security detail, a palliative tour and private anecdotes, then asks the public to accept him as a champion. What a joke.

That is not enough. What has Obi done for the people of the Southeast to warrant support for him over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration’s projects are visible across the region and whose public record is open to examination? Where are the durable, region-wide results? Where are the institutions and projects that demonstrate his impact across Igboland?

Umahi’s advice to Ebonyians is a political judgment and a call to use their votes according to their own interests and for the benefit of the people of the Southeast.

Ebonyi people have risen and are committed to President Tinubu through Umahi.

Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
Southeast Zonal Coordinator, New Media
2027 Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
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Abbas, Olukoyede, Soludo, Uzodimma, Others Attend Opening of EFCC Regional Office in Anambra

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, were among dignitaries who attended the opening of the EFCC’s office in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Friday.
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President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Abbas, which was attended by prominent members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers from Anambra and Imo states, as well as captains of industry.

Speaking in his opening address, Olukoyede said the commission had begun the digitisation of its processes, adding that more than 60 per cent of its activities were currently digitised.

He said the EFCC’s zonal facility, strategically located in Awka, was aimed at significantly expanding the commission’s operational footprint and strengthening its capacity to deliver accountability oversight across Anambra and Imo states.

He said the establishment of the office was more than geographical expansion, adding that it would bring the agency closer to the people and the economic activities it was mandated to protect.

The newly commissioned EFCC’s office in Awka…Photo Credit: Ikenna Obianeri
He said, “This facility significantly expands our operational footprint and reinforces our capacity to deliver comprehensive accountability oversight across both Anambra and Imo states.

“So, it is one office that covers two states – Anambra and Imo. The dedication of this building today represents an expansion of access to justice, an expansion of our operational capacity, and, importantly, an expansion of the collaboration between the EFCC and the Nigerian public in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

“The establishment of this zonal directorate is integral to the commission’s expansion made possible by the generous appropriation of the National Assembly and the strategic interventions of President Bola Tinubu, for which we express our profound gratitude.

“Under the current reform agenda, we are establishing directorates in Ekiti State, which we commissioned a couple of months ago; Anambra State, which we are commissioning today; and Katsina State, which we will be commissioning next week.”

Olukoyede said the strategic expansion was designed to strengthen the fight against economic and financial crimes across the affected states, which he described as centres of enterprise, innovation and commerce.

He said the commission received 49,615 petitions between October 2023 and July 2024, out of which 39,632 cases were investigated.

He said, “Across both states, we see Nigerians creating businesses, building industry, trading, investing, and also generating employment.

“These legitimate economic activities must be protected from fraud, from cybercrime and money laundering, advance fee fraud, diversion of public resources, and other forms of economic and financial crime.

“Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It’s about bringing the agency a bit closer to the people, and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect.

“I need to emphasise this because I don’t want anybody to go and be fighting with our coming. Part of our mandate is also to help you to safeguard your economy. And that’s one of the things EFCC is known for.

“And so, I charge Mr Governor and the head of the office here to develop a cordial working relationship. We look at vulnerable areas in the system, vulnerability in particular areas, and areas that are vulnerable to fraud, and we work with you to draw what we call risk assessment and control.

“That will be part of the mission. So, we are not just here to hunt you, we are here to work with you to make sure that you succeed in your economic activities.

“In pursuit of our mandate as well, our primary engagement is in corruption. We have made impressive progress.”

Olukoyede added that the commission had filed 14,436 cases in court and secured 10,872 convictions within the period under review.

“This gives a conviction that the commission is taking the fight against financial crimes seriously,” he added.

The Speaker, Abbas, who represented President Tinubu, urged the governments of Anambra and Imo states to protect the critical infrastructure.

He said Nigeria’s economic resurgence and improved investment outlook owed much to the commission’s enforcement operations, which, according to him, culminated in the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025.

He added that the EFCC’s enforcement operations served as proof of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts.

According to him, the achievements had strengthened the nation’s financial security and restored international confidence in its economic potential.

In his address, Soludo welcomed the EFCC team to Anambra, saying the commission should ideally have offices in all 774 local government areas of the country to effectively fight financial crimes.

Soludo said his administration would partner with the anti-graft agency in the fight against economic crimes in the state.

“We are enthusiastic and excited to ensure that there is EFCC in Anambra here, not because our people are into crime. But because fighting crime is everybody’s responsibility. It needs to be heavy. Ideally, EFCC should be in the 774 LGAs of the country.

Olukoyede

“And so this regional office covering Anambra and Imo states is a welcome development, and we say thank you very much; welcome to Anambra.

“We will cooperate with you in everywhere possible to make sure that your work goes well. In a society where you have pervasive economic and financial crimes, that society will not move forward economically or in development.”

In his remarks, Uzodimma commended the EFCC chairman for expanding the capacity of the anti-graft agency, saying Imo State would partner with the commission in the fight against financial crimes.
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Government Deploys CNG Buses to Cut Transport Fares by 50% in Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has commenced the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas buses as part of measures to reduce transport fares by 50 per cent and ease the burden of transportation costs on residents.
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Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced the initiative on Thursday during the official flag-off of 15 CNG buses at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado-Ekiti.

The deployment, which coincided with Nigeria’s Independence Day and the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State, is part of efforts by the state government to provide affordable and accessible public transportation in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Oyebanji, who was accompanied by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the 15 buses, donated to the state by the Federal Government, represented the pilot phase of the initiative.

He said the state government would expand the fleet to ensure that more residents benefit from the intervention.

According to the governor, reducing transportation costs remains essential to easing the economic burden on citizens.

“The President charged all state Governors that by October first, we should find a way of reducing transportation cost because most of the implications we are witnessing, transportation contributes a lot to it and what we have done today is just the pilot: 15 CNG buses, which are going to be distributed to the unions, and the agency will manage it,” Oyebanji said.

He urged transport unions to ensure that the benefits of the CNG buses were passed directly to commuters through reduced fares.

“My appeal is to the Unions; they should allow the gains to translate to the commuters because this will reduce transportation cost by 50 percent,” he said.

Oyebanji also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the Federal Government’s intervention, saying the provision of the buses would contribute significantly to reducing the transportation burden on residents.

The governor further said the administration’s economic policies had created opportunities for states to implement programmes and projects that directly affect the lives of citizens.

“No matter how visionary a leader is, if there are no resources to work with, it will just stay in the realm of a vision,” Oyebanji said.

“But the President has been helping and supporting us not only in Ekiti State but in all the states in the country to translate our vision into action and impacts for the people.”

Speaking on the deployment, the Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said routes had already been mapped out for the CNG buses.

Akingbolu said the initiative would provide residents with more affordable and reliable interstate transportation while reducing the impact of high transport fares on commuters.

The state government said it would continue to explore measures aimed at reducing transportation costs and improving access to affordable public transportation across Ekiti State.

CNG, Ekiti

Gilbert Ekugbe
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape.

His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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