Member of the House of Representatives, Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for giving the South East a renewed sense of belonging through inclusive governance and visible infrastructural development.

According to Umeha, who represents the Udi-Ezeagu Federal Constituency of Enugu State, the APC-led government has taken deliberate steps to integrate Ndigbo into the national framework.

The lawmaker, who recently defected from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, describing President Tinubu as a detribalized Nigerian committed to the unity of the country.

He noted that the President’s inclusive approach, which dates back to his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, has remained consistent at the federal level, with numerous South Easterners historically appointed into key positions.

Umeha emphasized that President Tinubu’s multiple visits to South East states—including Imo, Enugu, and Anambra—signal a clear intention to carry the region along, irrespective of political affiliations.

He said this inclusive outreach stands in stark contrast to past administrations, where the region was marginalised.

He highlighted ongoing projects such as the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, the Second Niger Bridge and its access road, the Eke Obinagu interchange on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway, and the Makurdi-Obollo-Afor-Opi-9th Mile Road as evidence of the administration’s commitment.

Umeha also pointed to the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), a long-overdue initiative that finally became a reality under the 10th National Assembly and President Tinubu’s assent, as a landmark achievement.

“These are transformative projects that were either stalled or neglected for years. But within just two years of President Tinubu’s leadership, we are witnessing tangible progress. The establishment of the SEDC, which had long been delayed in previous Assemblies, was finally signed into law—an indication of the President’s commitment to the South East,” he said.

Explaining his decision to join the APC, Umeha said internal leadership crises in the Labour Party had made it difficult to advance the interests of his constituency. He said his move was driven by the need to align with the central government and maximize development opportunities for his people.

He stressed that the people of Udi and Ezeagu are in desperate need of infrastructure, clean water, healthcare, education, jobs, and empowerment opportunities. Joining the APC, he explained, would enable him to tap into the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and bring development directly to his constituents.

Umeha added that Enugu State, as the symbolic heart of the South East, must not be left out of national decision-making.

He argued that if states like Imo and Ebonyi are well represented at the center, Enugu must also take its place in the national political arena.

“So these are some of the reasons why we decided to defect to APC—to join the national leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to bring developments, evidence of democracy, to the people of Udi and Ezeagu,” he said.