By Sunday Dare
The recent one day working visit to Enugu by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was no ordinary visit. There was more to the visit than meets the eye. Atleast for discerning minds.
For a man with the heart of a lion, everywhere in the forest was penetrable, discoverable and adaptable. In political jargon the Lion is the juggernaut of the forest. Humble, yet majestic in his strides. Powerful yet measured in the application of his prowess. Moving quietly but steely.
Such was the entrance of President Tinubu into the South East using the Enugu corridor. Enugu the once administrative Headquarters of Eastern Region is now the beacon of South East Development rebound.
Coming from a hectic 2-week schedule of Christmas and New Year celebrations and with a newly minted Man of The Year award in the Bag, President Tinubu chose Enugu State in the South East as his first port of call in a year that promises to be eventful.
The Visit was loaded. It was a shout out to the South East that we are one. No one was better qualified than President Tinubu to deliver that message.
Dressed in full Igbo attire along with his son Seyi who pulled all the stops to make sure he joined his father for the Enugu State Visit, the President was all business.
From the way he spoke it was clear he was well prepared for the visit. He was on point as he spoke about national unity, about our brotherhood, about development, about democracy and about security. He wove his way round national issues using Enugu as political bully pulpit to reach out to the South East. We are one family in rhe same house but sharing different rooms. He spoke with wisdom as an elder. But more with sagacity as political leader and Statesman. In Enugu we saw possibilities. We saw potentials. We witnessed the touch of the South East. We were presented with the evidence that unity drives development.
Indeed, it could be said that President Tinubu reignited optimism in the South-East of a nation possible.
Here are samplers of the high points of the President’s visit and what they signpost for the Eastern Region.
The President made the pledge to complete the long-anticipated Eastern rail line corridor connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. Speaking during an interactive session with South-East leaders. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and energy development in the region.
The Eastern rail line, a critical project for boosting trade and connectivity in the region, has been in some limbo for years.
Sunday Dare
Energy Revolution in the Anambra Basin
Beyond rail infrastructure, Tinubu spotlighted the untapped potential of the Anambra Basin, estimated to hold one billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas. “Gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no time to waste; we must invest in it. We will do it together,” the President said, emphasizing the strategic importance of energy development for Nigeria’s future.
The president’s remarks underscored the administration’s focus on diversifying energy sources and boosting revenue for states, highlighting the collaborative efforts required to unlock the basin’s vast resources.
During his visit, President Tinubu inaugurated a series of projects in Enugu, including the GTC Smart Green School, the New Haven/Bisalla Road, the International Conference Centre, and a state-of-the-art Command-and-Control Centre. He also virtually commissioned other key projects, praising Enugu Governor Peter Mbah for his visionary leadership and commitment to 21st-century development.
“This is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. Leaders like Peter Mbah are taking Enugu to greater heights,” Tinubu said, lauding the governor’s ability to channel federal resources into impactful development initiatives.
… Unity Over Party Lines
Tinubu struck a unifying tone, dismissing partisan divides in favor of collective progress. “I don’t care which party you come from; you are my friend,” he said, applauding governors like Peter Mbah (PDP) and Alex Otti (Labour Party) for their dedication to their states. “We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria, living in different rooms of the same house.” The Governor of Imo State, Hope Nzodinma who arrived Enugu two hours before President Tinubu landed to recieve him was fully on ground completing a South East political redenvous for Mr. President.
South-East Development in Focus:
Governor Mbah commended President Tinubu’s administration for its transformative policies, particularly the establishment of the South-East Development Commission and the liberalization of the electricity sector through the amended Electricity Act. “These actions reflect enduring legacies that will shape our nation’s growth,”
Enugu has already emerged as a trailblazer, securing regulatory oversight of its local electricity market—an achievement that Mbah credits to the swift pursuit of development goals under Tinubu’s leadership.
A New Dawn for the South-East beckons as it does for Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s visit to Enugu not only underscored his administration’s commitment to national development but also highlighted the importance of unity in driving national progress. His bold promises and collaborative approach have raised hopes for a brighter future for the South-East and Nigeria as a whole.
Enugu was more than just a visit. It cracked open a new vista in political relations. And for Mr. President it afforded him the opportunity to drive home the point that he was a President for all.
Sunday Dare, CON is the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Public Communications
