By Abdullahi Alhassan
Ahead of the highly anticipated cabinet reshuffle, Concerned Northern Forum, a Coalition of over 73 civil society organisations from the northern Nigeria has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain Engineer. Dave Umahi as Minister of Works to enable him complete the legacy projects he has begun.
Engr. Dave Umahi, a seasoned Engineer and two time Governor of Ebonyi State has won wide acclaim from Nigerians for his innovative approaches to road construction and sterling performance in the Ministry of Works with a myriad legacy projects springing up all over the country.
In a press statement signed by its spokesman, Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem, the Coalition appealed to northern elders, politicians, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to rally round the Minister of Works to enable him complete some strategic projects he has started in the region.
According to the release, “as the bonafide mouth piece of the northern youths with over 5 million registered members, we urge all well meaning citizens from the north to cooperate and rally round the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi to enable him complete the Badagry to Sokoto highway and the completion of the Kano-Kaduna- Abuja highway amongst others, bearing in mind their enormous economic potentials.
“Already, the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is ongoing and will be completed in no distant time because of the synergy between the federal government and the southern elites.
This is our opportunity to attract positive development to the northern region which is already ravaged by insecurity. All hands must therefore be on deck to ensure the kickstart, continuation and possibly completion of all projects within our region before the end of the 1st term of the current administration in 2027”
The Coalition equally appealed to Mr. President to consider retaining Engr. Dave Umahi as the Minister of Works considering the massive projets he has initiated across the country, adding that, moving him to another Ministry will derail the renewed hope agenda of the current administration.
“Mr. President, your administration has recorded great milestones chiefly because of your keen ability to hunt for the best talents and credible men and women to drive your agenda for Nigerians. The performance scorecard of your appointees especially that of the Minister Works, Federal Capital Territory and Interior have solidified your reputation as a great leader.
“Having said that, we appeal to you for the sake of millions of your supporters and loyalists in northern Nigeria to kindly retain Engr. Dave Umahi as the Minister of Works to enable him deliver on the promises he made to the north and other regions where legacy projects are currently running. As a star performer in your administration, we have absolute trust his his ability and we are confident that he’ll deliver excellently”, the statement concluded.
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