David Umahi, the Minister for Works, has told residents of Sokoto State to vote for President Bola Tinubu in the next national elections in 2027 as a precondition for the completion of the Sokoto-Badagry road.
“We must appreciate Mr President for the road and the work he is doing. We assure you that we will finish it, the first phase will finish in 2027 and if you want the second phase to continue, you know what to do,” minister Umahi said.
The minister was speaking on Thursday during the unveiling of the 1,068 km Sokoto-Badagry highway in the Illegal local government of Sokoto State.
He said the president changed the name from Badagry-Sokoto to Sokoto-Badagry because of his love for the residents of Sokoto, and approved the first phase of 120 km to begin from Sokoto.
“We are working day and night to finish the road, but three years is not enough. But, we can finish it in six years,” he said.
“Before 2027, this phase 1A will finish. Do you want phase 1B to finish? Sokoto people do you want phase 1B to finish? It’s going to start around 2027. You know what to do. You did it before. You know what to do. The president you trust is the only one who will finish it,” Mr Umahi added.
Mr Umahi said the Sokoto-Badagry road project was first initiated 48 years ago by President Shehu Shagari, and no other president before Mr Tinubu has had the courage to complete the road.
“…because if others had the courage to finish it, 48 years, they would have attempted it. But no one did. A man of courage, a divine president, he (Tinubu) will finish it,” the works minister said.
Some Nigerians frown that the road has been reduced to a reelection campaign project, adding that it was also wrong to infuse the reelection of President Tinubu as a precondition for its completion.
