Minister of Works, David Umahi, has criticised former Anambra State governor and opposition figure Peter Obi, accusing him of being overly determined to become president and alleging that he has not been forthright on key issues affecting Nigeria’s South-East region.
Umahi made the remarks during an inspection of Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Epe, Lagos State, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze.
The minister was responding to reports circulating on social media claiming that Obi had pledged to halt some of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s flagship infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, if elected president in 2027.
According to Umahi, such a position would be detrimental to national development and economic growth.
“He simply wants to become president by all means, and that is not good for our people. Let us know the truth. Deceit will not help us,” the minister was quoted as saying.
However, it remains unclear whether Obi made the comments attributed to him in the social media reports referenced by Umahi.
The former Anambra governor had previously criticised the coastal highway project. In May 2024, Obi argued that the Federal Government should prioritise repairing existing federal roads across the country rather than embarking on new large-scale infrastructure projects. He maintained that Nigeria’s pressing development challenges required greater attention to existing transport networks and other urgent needs.
Reacting to the reports, Umahi described the alleged position as disappointing and expressed hope that Obi had not actually made the statement.
The minister defended the coastal highway project, describing it as a transformative initiative with long-term economic benefits for the country. He also challenged supporters of Obi to compare the development records of Tinubu and Obi during their respective tenures as governors of Lagos and Anambra states.
According to Umahi, the coastal highway reflects Tinubu’s long-term vision and commitment to infrastructure development.
The minister further stated that he would continue to support and defend the administration’s projects, adding that President Tinubu enjoys significant backing in his home state of Ebonyi and across the South-East.
Umahi also revisited issues surrounding the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, accusing Obi of failing to clearly state his position on matters related to insecurity and the Monday sit-at-home order that has affected parts of the South-East.
The minister alleged that Obi had not spoken strongly enough against the sit-at-home directive, which he said had negatively impacted lives and economic activities in the region.
He argued that political leaders should take responsibility for their actions and public positions, particularly on issues that affect public safety and regional stability.
Obi has not publicly responded to Umahi’s latest comments. The exchange is the latest in a series of political disagreements between supporters of the ruling administration and opposition figures as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum.
