Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has charged contractors handling the trans-Saharan highway project to strictly adhere to approved engineering standards and specifications to ensure quality delivery.

Nwifuru gave the charge on Tuesday during an inspection of the 118-kilometre highway stretching from Ndibe Bridge in Afikpo through Onicha, Ezza South, Ezza North and Ebonyi Local Government Area to Gboko in Benue State.

Speaking at the proposed flyover site in Ukwuachi, he said that the project would ease traffic congestion and improve the movement of commuters and other road users.

The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for approving major infrastructure projects in the South-East, describing them as a significant boost to the region’s development.

According to him, the President has demonstrated commitment to providing critical infrastructure and improving the welfare of the people.

He assured the contractors of the state’s cooperation, particularly in addressing issues relating to project implementation and evaluation to ensure timely completion.

Nwifuru, however, warned against substandard work, insisting that the project must comply with approved designs and engineering specifications.

He also called on the people of the South-East to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development in the region.

The Federal Controller of Works in Ebonyi, Maxwell Okoha, said that the flyover component was designed to decongest traffic, enhance road safety and improve transportation along the corridor.

Also, Mustapha Mohammad, the Managing Director of Infouest Construction Company Ltd., assured the governor that the company would adhere to the required standards and deliver the project as scheduled. 

The presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, has withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race to endorse the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu.

Imumolen, a factional National Chairman of the party, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, noting that his decision followed extensive consultations with the party’s leadership.

He described his withdrawal as a patriotic sacrifice aimed at prioritising national unity, stability, and continuous development over personal political ambition.

“Following my emergence as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party during the duly conducted presidential primaries, I, in consultation with the leadership of the party, made the patriotic decision to withdraw from the presidential race and fully support the re-election of President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

“This decision was not borne out of personal interest, but from a deep conviction that the unity, stability, and continued progress of Nigeria must take precedence over personal political ambition,” he said.

Highlighting 10 reasons for endorsing Tinubu’s re-election, Imumolen noted that the President’s reform agenda closely aligns with his manifesto, particularly in economic transformation, education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, industrialisation, and national development.

“His resilience and ability to navigate Nigeria’s complex political and economic landscape demonstrate uncommon courage, determination, and strategic leadership worthy of emulation.

“In Nigeria’s democratic history, President Tinubu has consistently displayed extraordinary political wisdom, foresight, and nation-building capacity that have produced transformational leaders across the country.

“His commitment to sustaining progressive governance through purposeful leadership, institutional reforms, and continuity provides confidence in Nigeria’s long-term growth and stability,” he added.

He said Tinubu had also shown a remarkable ability to identify capable individuals, build consensus, promote national unity, and make difficult decisions in the best interest of the nation.

Imumolen expressed belief that the President is uniquely positioned to provide a seamless transition between the founding generation of Nigeria’s democratic leadership and the emerging generation of transformational leaders.

He added that in spite of current economic challenges, he remained convinced that Tinubu’s policy direction, fiscal discipline, and decisive leadership would reposition Nigeria’s economy for sustainable prosperity.

“His willingness to engage and collaborate with progressive-minded Nigerians across political parties reflects true statesmanship and a genuine commitment to national development above partisan interests.

“My aspiration has always been to serve Nigeria and not merely to occupy public office.

“Whenever the national interest is better served through unity and strategic collaboration, I will always choose Nigeria above personal political ambition.”

He said that at this critical stage of the nation’s development, continuity in governance, policy consistency, political stability, and sustained reforms were essential for attracting investment.

He said it was also necessary for creating jobs, strengthening institutions, and building a prosperous Nigeria for future generations.

“Today, I therefore declare my total support for the re-election of President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

“I equally call on members of the Accord Party, my supporters across Nigeria, the youth, professionals, and all patriotic Nigerians to join hands in supporting this national project,” Imumolen said.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

The Imole Campaign Council has slammed the misinterpretation and falsification of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s clarion call on President Bola Tinubu to enforce free and fair elections in Osun state, denying accusations that the governor attacked the president.

Reacting to the opposition claim, the Director General, Imole Campaign Organisation, Akogun Lere Oyewumi, said “In a rebuttal to the fake news from the Osun APC, the campaign council restated the Governor’s passionate pleading to Mr President to wade in as the father of all to stop the killings and maiming of residents and Accord members, affirming that “at no point, did the governor attack or deride the president.

“Governor Adeleke only called the attention of President Tinubu to the ongoing repression and intimidation of Osun residents and urged the President to call the Marine Minister, Gboyega Oyetola to order so as to stop recurrence of political violence of the past.

“The state governor only informed the president of constant killing that is driving towards genocide. The Accord party has lost seven members with more than 20 suffering various gun injuries in the last three months. Presently, more than 60 Accord members are languishing in illegal police detentions.

“In 2022, the governor lost 45 of his supporters in the cold hands of APC thugs. The police did not raise a finger to prosecute suspected APC thugs who killed our members during the 2022 elections. APC thugs are daily raiding towns and houses of Accord leaders. The facts are in the public domain.

“The governor also referenced the Osun local government crisis in which over N350 billion of Osun local government funds have been diverted and been used by illegal APC operatives whose falsely claimed tenure has also lapsed.

“The governor only spoke the truth about the illegality across Osun local government and urged the President to intervene for APC illegal occupants of the councils to vacate.

“The State Governor only repeated what the Campaign Council has severally documented that APC sponsored thugs are daily terrorising the residents of Osun including Accord members.

“The lies and concoction on Osun finance levelled by the Osun APC falls flat because Osun has won several awards on budget transparency and came third nationally on auditing responsiveness.

“The Adeleke administration runs a due process and transparency based government with massive good governance delivery across all the sectors”, concluded.