A prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State has launched a scathing critique against the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, dismissing his assertions of inclusive governance for the South East under President Bola Tinubu as misleading.
Ude Dismisses Umahi's Claims as Misleading
Comrade Adolphus Ude, who serves as the Coordinator of ADC Enugu Like Minds and is a former pioneer Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, issued a personal statement on Thursday, December 18, 2025. He was reacting to Umahi's recent comments made during an inspection of federal projects in the region, where the minister linked feelings of marginalisation to Biafra agitation and stated the Igbo were "comfortable and happy" with Tinubu's leadership.
Ude categorically rejected this position, describing the minister as an "efulefu"—a term implying a worthless person or one who is disloyal to communal interests. He accused Umahi of promoting a narrative that allegedly betrays the South East.
Marginalisation Has Intensified, Says ADC Stakeholder
In his detailed rebuttal, Ude insisted that the marginalisation of the Igbo people has not only persisted but has worsened since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. He challenged the minister's claims by pointing to the distribution of federal infrastructure and key political appointments.
"Contrary to what the minister has said, marginalisation of the Igbos has not abated. It has rather intensified under the Tinubu administration, both in infrastructure allocation and federal appointments," Ude stated.
He posed pointed questions: "Which of the long-standing grievances of the South East has this administration addressed? What exactly is the minister referring to as inclusive governance?"
Exclusion from Signature Projects Highlighted
Ude provided concrete examples to back his argument, notably the exclusion of the South East from the Tinubu administration's flagship road projects. He specifically mentioned the multi-trillion naira Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Highway.
"Which inclusion is the minister talking about when none of these outrageously priced projects passed through any of the five South East states, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi, not even as a bypass?" he queried.
Furthermore, he lamented the slow pace of work on critical inherited federal roads in the region, such as the Enugu–Port Harcourt, Owerri–Onitsha, and Enugu–Onitsha expressways. He also recalled that despite Umahi's announcement in January 2024 about work commencing on the Ninth Mile–Enugu–Makurdi Highway, the Enugu axis remains in poor condition nearly two years later.
Drawing a sharp contrast, Ude challenged Umahi to disclose the total value of federal road projects in the entire South East, highlighting reports that the Federal Executive Council approved projects worth about N3.9 trillion for Lagos State alone within two years.
Ude concluded with a caution to the minister, stressing that equity and fairness are essential for national unity. "No wise politician plays politics with the destiny of his own people," he asserted.
This criticism comes just a day after Minister Umahi, on Wednesday, December 17, downplayed the significance of Biafra agitation during an end-of-year press briefing, stating that "we are better as Nigeria."
