APC chieftain hails Umahi’s appointment as minister of works

A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Charles Udeogaranya, has hailed President Bola Tinubu over the appointment of the former governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, as the new Minister of Works.

Udeogaranya disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, noting that the decision to appoint the engineer-turned-politician has ‘calmed several frayed nerves’ following the earlier notion that Tinubu might not allocate any serious portfolio to the South-East.

While describing Umahi as a rare talent, the former APC chieftain who dumped the ruling party to support the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, in the build-up to the 2023 presidential poll, praised Tinubu for having an ‘insight to place a round peg in a round hole’ with the ministerial appointment.

He said, “President Tinubu was right on the money with his appointment of Engr. Dave Umahi as Minister of Works. This appointment has calmed several frayed nerves over his low numerical ministerial nominees from the South-East.

“It has once again proved that the handshake across the Niger is not totally neglected, and with what Umahi did in Ebonyi State as governor, surely will be replicated across Nigeria, exponentially. The President has scored 100 over 100 with this singular appointment.”

Continuing, the elder statesman was however quick to note that his allegiance to an Obi presidency had not changed.

This was even as he expressed strong optimism that the judiciary would do justice with the pending cases before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Umahi was one of the 45 ministers unveiled along with their portfolios on Wednesday night.

In the list obtained by our correspondent, The PUNCH observed that 13 of the nominees were appointed as Ministers of State while some new ministries were also created.