Kano votará por Tinubu en 2027, asegura el gobernador Yusuf

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of marginalizing Bayelsa State, citing specific infrastructural decisions and political scheduling as evidence of neglect. Prince Mac-Eke, the state publicity secretary for the opposition party, delivered these allegations during a press briefing at the NDC secretariat in Biobolo, Yenagoa. He argued that the state, a critical contributor to the nation’s oil and gas sector, has not received equitable treatment in federal infrastructure planning or political engagement. Central to the complaint is the proposed realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which Mac-Eke described as a clear indicator of the low regard in which the federal government holds Bayelsa. He further criticized the exclusion of Bayelsa from the President’s campaign itinerary ahead of the 2027 general elections, labeling it another sign of administrative disregard. In response to the perceived snubbing, Mac-Eke declared that the NDC welcomed the absence of the incumbent President from the state’s electoral circuit. He stated that this omission provides the party with ample opportunity to communicate directly with supporters regarding the credentials of its own candidates. Mac-Eke characterized the NDC slate as more credible, qualified, and transparent, emphasizing their dedication to combating corruption. He expressed strong confidence that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would garner substantial support in Bayelsa. To secure this outcome, the party has reportedly established robust grassroots structures aimed at mobilizing voters. Mac-Eke urged the electorate to reject vote-buying practices and instead evaluate candidates based on their track records, competence, and policy platforms. Simultaneously, the House of Representatives has intervened in the controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, urging the federal government to review the proposed route changes. During a plenary session held on Wednesday, lawmakers called for the retention of the originally conceptualized alignment, which passes through Ondo State and the Escravos-Ogheye-Ugborodo corridor in Delta State. The motion was tabled by Thomas Ereyitomi, the representative for Warri South/Warri South West Federal Constituency. Lawmakers warned that diverting the highway away from coastal communities could undermine the project’s core objectives of enhancing connectivity, facilitating trade, and unlocking regional economic potential. They emphasized that the route serves areas with significant oil and gas infrastructure, including the Chevron tank farm and the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids plant. Ereyitomi argued that the proposed realignment might compromise the project's initial goals if not properly evaluated. He stressed the need for an independent assessment of engineering requirements, environmental consequences, socioeconomic impacts, and total lifecycle costs before any changes are finalized. The lawmaker noted that maintaining the coastal alignment would improve access to economic hubs and facilitate the movement of workers, equipment, and commercial goods. He also highlighted the importance of considering the full financial burden of alternative routes, which includes additional road distances, bridge construction, ground improvements, environmental mitigation measures, compensation packages, flood protection systems, and long-term maintenance costs. Furthermore, Ereyitomi suggested that technical solutions such as soil stabilization, geosynthetics, piled foundations, reinforced embankments, and elevated viaducts could address terrain challenges without abandoning the coastal path. Joining the debate, Inombek Abiante, a lawmaker from Rivers State, challenged the justification for moving the road away from coastal populations. He pointed out that these communities have historically suffered from poor infrastructure despite the vast economic value derived from resource extraction in their areas. Abiante posed a rhetorical question regarding the double standard applied to terrain difficulties, asking why difficult terrain is cited as a reason to avoid building roads in resource-rich areas, whereas such obstacles would likely be overcome if the goal were crude oil extraction. He demanded that the experts advocating for the realignment appear before the House to provide detailed technical explanations for the proposed changes. The federal government has defended the modifications under consideration, citing difficult terrain, flooding risks, weak subsoil conditions, and climate-related hazards as primary factors. David Umahi, the Minister of Works, stated that the administration intends to utilize portions of the existing East-West Road in the affected corridor while preserving the broader scope of the coastal highway project. This defense came amid a separate event in Kano State, where Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf pledged the state’s support for President Tinubu in the upcoming elections. Speaking at the commissioning of a section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Highway in Tamburawa, Yusuf asserted that residents of Kano and the wider Northwest region would vote for the President to ensure the continuity of development projects. Umahi used the occasion to declare that the worst of Nigeria’s economic hardships had passed, claiming that the administration’s reforms were beginning to yield positive results. He cited numerous road projects in the Northwest as evidence of the government’s progress, noting that nearly 400 kilometers of roads had been completed in the region within three years. Additionally, approximately 4,000 kilometers of road projects are currently underway. Umahi listed several specific initiatives, including the Kano Northern Bypass, Kano Ring Road, Kano-Kongolam road, Zari-Hunkuyi road, and the Sokoto-Zamfara-Zaria road. He mentioned that some projects inherited from the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had been redesigned to incorporate reinforced concrete pavements. The minister emphasized that no project initiated by the late Buhari administration had been abandoned in the North, asserting that the current government was committed to completing them.