President Tinubu, on Saturday, the 4th of January, 2025, paid a one-day working visit to Enugu State, a state in the southeast of Nigeria.
This visit is seen as his effort to strengthen his base in the South East region.
The President, during the visit, commissioned projects such as the 30 completed and equipped Enugu Smart Green Schools out of 260 under construction across the 260 wards in the state; 60 completed and equipped Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres out of the 260 under construction across the 260 wards in the state; the completed multi-auditorium and multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre; 90 completed urban roads in Enugu City; the state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre; as well as 150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-embedded surveillance cameras.
Additionally, some rural roads completed by the Peter Mbah administration were commissioned.
The visit is significant in many ways. It speaks volumes of the President’s commitment to ensuring development and addressing concerns in the South East. Tinubu’s administration has already made moves such as restructuring the South East Development Commission, appointing illustrious Easterners into positions, and adding that the eastern rail and other developmental concerns will be addressed.
The South East of Nigeria has, over time, been accused of being marginalized in national politics.
In the 2023 presidential elections, President Tinubu received a relatively low percentage of votes from the South East. In the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, Tinubu managed to secure 25% of the votes in only three states: Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo. However, his overall performance in the region was significantly behind contenders, particularly Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who dominated the South East, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. Being a politician, the President will be concerned about changing the narrative in 2027, and so building bridges and creating inroads into the South East won’t be a bad political idea.
Another tactic we’ve seen from President Tinubu is his ability to work with people who will add value to him, even if they are not of his party, the All Progressives Congress. The likes of Nyesom Wike, Daniel Bwala, etc are a testament. Governor Peter Mbah is a member of the People’s Democratic Party, but the President gave him a stellar remark, saying he is doing a good job and that he does not care about the party. That’s a good place to start for a region that is primarily PDP, APGA, and recently LP.
But there are still concerns. South East leaders are requesting the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed IPOB, and some are clamoring for the creation of Anioma State as the sixth state of the region.
While it remains unknown how President Tinubu will handle these issues, as they may prove to be controversial, the President was received at the airport by many South Eastern leaders, including the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; the Abia Governor, Alex Otti; the Anambra Deputy Governor; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and oil magnate, Arthur Eze, among others.
Ubong Usoro
