A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Osita Okechukwu, on Sunday said President Bola Tinubu has boosted his chances of getting South-East votes in 2027.

 

Okechukwu said if Tinubu can fulfill his promises of bringing investors to the South-East, he would have boosted his chances of getting the region to vote for him in the next election.

 

Tinubu had on Saturday embarked on his first official working visit to the South-East with a trip to Enugu State.

 

During the visit, he commissioned projects initiated by the state governor, Peter Mbah.

 

The projects commissioned include 30 smart green schools, 60 completed type 2 primary health centres, and the 19-kilometre Airport-New Haven–Bisalla and Okpara Square roads.

 

At a meeting with South-East stakeholders, the President said the removal of petrol subsidy was necessary to build the nation and protect the interests of future generations.

 

The President also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.

 

The basin is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.

 

A statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, quoted Tinubu as saying: “It is a work in progress. I inherited some of these critical problems and am committed to solving them.

 

“On the support of the gas infrastructure. Sure, gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no wasting of time than to invest more in it. We will do it together, and I am lucky I have good governors.

 

“President Bola Tinubu has made a firm commitment that his administration will complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. President Tinubu gave the assurance during an interactive session with South East leaders during his official visit to Enugu State on Saturday.

 

“The President also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve. The basin is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.”

 

Reacting, Okechukwu commended Tinubu for taking time off his busy schedule to visit Enugu State, the Capital of the South-East geopolitical zone, where he got the least votes during the 2023 presidential election.

 

In a statement he signed, the former Voice of Nigeria, VON, Director General, said his commendation is predicated on tripartite grounds: “One is that the state visit accorded Mr President the golden opportunity to assess the unfortunate infrastructure deficit in the South-East geopolitical zone.

 

“Secondly, it also obliged Mr President interaction arena with the leadership of our zone.

 

“Thirdly, his uncommon pledge to embark on Standard Gauge Railways in Eastern Corridor like Western Corridor, Gas Pipeline and modernisation of security apparatus in the region.

 

“What else will boost our electoral chances in 2027 general elections than shopping for investors and implement these projects?

 

“Methinks these pledges and their implementation will boost Mr President’s electoral fortunes in the South-East geopolitical zone in 2027 presidential election.”