Governor Peter Mbah and Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West senatorial district, have attributed Enugu’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election to his major infrastructure investments in the South-East.

The duo explained on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Enugu State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

Inaugurating the council, Mbah said the decision to support Mr Tinubu’s second-term ambition was not based on blind loyalty but on the President’s commitment to the development of the South-East.

According to him, the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, ongoing federal road projects and investments in aviation were evidence of Mr Tinubu’s commitment to the region.

The governor recalled that the idea of establishing the SEDC had existed since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 but only became a reality under Mr Tinubu’s administration. He noted that despite the relatively low number of votes Mr Tinubu received from the South-East during the 2023 presidential election, the president had continued to demonstrate commitment to the region’s development.

“In 2023, we never supported him in the South-East. He got perhaps less than six per cent of the total votes from the region, and he still won the election. But he has kept faith with the South-East. He has not sidelined the South East.

“Today, we have the South East Development Commission, a platform that is already facilitating major investments, including the proposed gas pipeline that will connect cities across the region,” he said.

He also cited the ongoing rehabilitation of the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways, as well as other federal road projects, as major interventions that would improve connectivity and economic activities.

Mr Mbah also commended the President’s commitment to developing the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, particularly plans for a cargo terminal and full operation of its international wing. According to the governor, the cargo terminal, expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2027, will reduce the cost of transporting goods from Lagos to the South-East.

Mr Mbah maintained that a strategic political alliance with the Federal Government was necessary to advance the South-East’s economic and political interests.

In his goodwill message, Mr Ngwu said Mr Tinubu’s ongoing road construction and rehabilitation projects across the South-East gave people sufficient reasons to support his re-election.

The senator identified the Enugu-Makurdi, Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Ebonyi roads as some of the projects receiving federal attention. He said the projects had significantly improved transportation and connectivity, while reducing the difficulties previously experienced by motorists and other road users.

Mr Ngwu urged members of the campaign council to base their campaigns on verifiable achievements rather than mere political slogans.

(NAN)