The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has rejected suggestions that he is not on the same level as former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
Umahi spoke on Thursday in Benin City during the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event, where he said there was no area in which Obi could be considered superior to him.
The minister said comparisons between the two should be based on their family backgrounds, intellectual capacity, records of service and contributions to the South-East.
Reacting to comments by a person he identified as Awuzi, who he said had accused some Igbo people of insulting Obi, Umahi said he did not believe any reasonable person would insult the former Anambra governor.
He, however, described Obi as “a lucky person” and questioned why members of the Federal Government should remain silent when critics challenge President Bola Tinubu’s record.
“One Awuzi said that ‘oh the Igbos are insulting Peter Obi’. I don’t think any reasonable person will insult Peter Obi, but I want to say that Peter Obi is a lucky person because when you tell people to go and verify and they verify and there is nothing they see. Some people are still talking and talking,” Umahi said.
“If you are challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the president is working and is using us to work and you expect us to keep quiet, we are not keeping quiet. When you condemn people you bring judgement upon yourself. When you say you are holier than angels, we have to analyse to know if it is true.”
Umahi also rejected the suggestion that Obi was not his “match”, saying he had considered whether such a comparison could be justified based on their backgrounds, intellectual capacity and records in public service.
“And when that guy says that Peter Obi is not my match, it took me ten minutes to think about it; is it in my larger family background that his is better than my own? Is it in intellectual capacity? Is it in what we have that was saying ‘oh no, the Igbos can never be president’. That can will not be alive when the Igbos become president because we will one day become president but it is not yet our turn, it is done for the people of South-East? Is it what we did when we were governors?” he said.
“So, when you say he is not a match, put it side by side and tell me what Peter Obi is better than this Dave Umahi. You can’t be tackling counsel without knowledge.”
On the 2027 presidency, Umahi said the Igbo would eventually produce a president but argued that, in his view, it was not yet the turn of the region.
“What we are saying is that it is not the turn of Igbos yet. I heard in today’s this thing one charlatan that was saying ‘oh no, the Igbos can never be president’. That can will not be alive when the Igbos become president because we will one day become president but it is not yet our turn, it is the turn of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Benin-Asaba road intervention
On the condition of the Benin-Asaba Road, Umahi said the Federal Government had commenced temporary intervention to address the deteriorating sections of the highway.
He said the concessionaire had rejected three options proposed by the government to facilitate continued work under the existing agreement.
The minister said the development had prompted the government to pursue an alternative approach, adding that President Tinubu had directed that the 136-kilometre dualisation of the Benin-Asaba Road be redesigned using reinforced concrete pavement.
“And it’s very unfortunate that every three beautiful options we gave to the concessionaire for the continuation of the so-called agreement failed. However, every disappointment can turn a blessing,” Umahi said.
“The President has directed whether under concessioning or under the takeover of the Ministry of Works that the entire 136km dualisation should be redesigned on reinforced concrete pavement. So, we have defined the project, there is going to be immediate intervention in the Benin Bypass.”
