Soludo: Southeast trusts Tinubu to deliver major development

By Vincent Ujumadu

Professor Chukwuma Soludo has described President Bola Tinubu as cerebral, courageous, and patriotic, saying the people of the South East trust him to make a significant difference in the region.

Speaking after taking the oath of office for his new tenure in Awka, Soludo expressed gratitude to the president for ongoing federal projects in the Southeast, particularly the Enugu–Onitsha expressway and the adjunct to the Second Niger Bridge.

“During his state visit to Anambra on May 8, 2025, I requested that Anambra and the Southeast be included in the national gas and rail master plans, as well as the dredging of the River Niger for the Onitsha River port. He approved, and we expect the relevant agencies to deliver,” Soludo said.

He noted that the Southeast is currently performing below its potential, emphasizing the need for a new direction to secure the region’s future. He reflected on years of self-inflicted setbacks and external neglect, which he said have slowed development and created challenges for future generations.

Soludo commended the current governors of the Southeast for their vision and commitment, expressing confidence that collaboration between leaders and citizens can drive regional greatness.

“Igboland needs healing. We need a new narrative and approach. I repeat what I stated in my inaugural address four years ago: with over 11.6 million Igbos in the North, more than seven million in Lagos, and 70% of our non-land assets scattered across Nigeria and the world, we need Nigeria, and Nigeria needs us. We need Africa and the world, and they need us,” he said.

He urged Igbos to pursue equity and fairness within Nigeria’s democracy rather than armed struggle, emphasizing the importance of justice and healing for victims of past conflicts. “Out of our experience with the civil war and recent challenges, Igbos need a day of justice and healing for the land, with eternal lessons to teach our children,” he stated.

Soludo called for Pan-Nigerian political engagement, stressing that Igbos must leverage their organizational strength and votes to bargain effectively for regional development. “We need to organize and lobby the rest of Nigeria to fulfill the Southeast’s post-war promise for massive reconstruction,” he said.

He concluded by urging Igbos to maximize benefits from Nigeria’s federal system, participate actively in governance, and work alongside like-minded Nigerians to achieve a fairer and more dynamic federation.

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