Member of the House of Representatives, Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a renewed sense of inclusion and visible infrastructural development in the South East under the current administration.
Umeha, who represents Udi-Ezeagu Federal Constituency in Enugu State and recently defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), praised the President for deliberately integrating the South East into national governance.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Umeha described Tinubu as a “detribalized Nigerian” with a long-standing commitment to national unity, adding that his inclusive leadership has remained consistent since his days as Governor of Lagos State.
He pointed to multiple appointments of South Easterners into strategic federal roles and Tinubu’s numerous visits to states like Enugu, Anambra, and Imo as signs of genuine engagement with the region—regardless of political affiliations.
“This stands in contrast to previous administrations where the South East was largely marginalised,” Umeha said.
He listed major infrastructural projects currently ongoing in the region, including the Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha expressways, the Second Niger Bridge and its access roads, the Eke Obinagu interchange on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, and the Makurdi-Obollo-Afor-Opi-9th Mile Road as evidence of the administration’s commitment.
Umeha also praised the creation of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), which he described as a long-overdue milestone finally achieved under Tinubu and the 10th National Assembly.
“These are transformative projects that were either stalled or neglected for years. But within just two years, we’re seeing real progress,” he said.
On his defection to the APC, Umeha said internal crises within the Labour Party made it difficult to effectively represent his constituents’ interests.
Aligning with the ruling party, he said, would better position him to bring federal projects to Udi and Ezeagu.
“Our people urgently need infrastructure, healthcare, education, jobs, and empowerment. Joining the APC allows us to access the Renewed Hope Agenda and deliver real dividends of democracy,” he added.
He emphasized that Enugu, as the symbolic heart of the South East, must not be sidelined in national decision-making, arguing that it must take its rightful place alongside better-represented states like Imo and Ebonyi.
“We are joining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national leadership to ensure that Udi and Ezeagu are not left behind,” Umeha said.
