Atiku described the project as
wasteful and a highway to fraud while responding to claims by works minister,
Umahi, that the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will tentatively cost N15.6
trillion.
But in reaction to Atiku’s
claims, factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro, in a
statement on Sunday, said the project, if brought to fruition, could reshape
the political landscape and recalibrate the fortunes of key players, notably,
Atiku Abubakar.
The statement read in part, “At
the heart of this transformation lies the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, a
monumental endeavor that, if brought to fruition, could reshape the political
landscape and recalibrate the fortunes of key players, notably the 2023 PDP
Presidential Candidate and the Waziri of Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar.
“As Nigerians and more
specifically, Ndigbo, bear witness to the unfolding drama, questions abound
regarding the enigma surrounding a Coastal Superhighway that promises manifold
economic benefits for the poor Nigerians.
“Yet, paradoxically, this
initiative has metamorphosed into a nightmare for opposition politicians,
casting a shadow, especially over Atiku Abubakar’s political ambitions.
“OHANAEZE NDIGBO, the apex Igbo
socio-cultural institution, has meticulously analyzed the labyrinthine
processes underpinning the inception of the 700km Coastal Lagos-Calabar route.
“The Presidential endorsement,
heralding a staggering 15 trillion Naira investment, and the subsequent
assignment of contracts to the esteemed Hi-Tech Company, compliant with legal
protocols, mark the genesis of a monumental undertaking.
“The measured pace of road
construction, priced at 4 billion per kilometer, has sown seeds of trepidation
within opposition circles, foreseeing a potential disruption to the political
equilibrium.
“The specter haunting the
opposition, particularly about President Tinubu’s prospective legacy in
presiding over the project’s completion before the 2027 elections under the
aegis of Minister Of Works, Senator David Umahi, poses a cogent threat to Atiku
Abubakar’s final bid for the presidential mantle in 2027.
“The ongoing construction
efforts, diligently overseen by Hi-Tech Company, have garnered favor among
Nigerians, reinforced by Minister Umahi’s illuminating discourse on the genesis
of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road through NDDC’s inception during the Goodluck
Jonathan’s era.
“It is incumbent upon Nigerians
to uphold the sanctity of Minister Umahi’s endeavors and shield them from undue
distractions orchestrated by sponsored malcontents, urging patience and
strategic timing for future engagements.
“As the saga unfolds, Atiku Abubakar
is enjoined to supplicate for the success of President Tinubu and Minister
Umahi in delivering the myriad ongoing road projects inherited from the tenure
of Former President Buhari.
“Minister Umahi’s stewardship,
underscored by a presidential mandate for innovative cement technology, heralds
a renaissance of infrastructure developmentalism fostering economic durability
and enhancing the prosperity of all Nigerians.”
