- ” Obi Is Inciting The Igbos Against Tinubu”, Umahi Alleges
- ”Umahi Is Trying To Tarnish My Image”, Obi Replies
By Abiola Olawale
A former governor of Anambra and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, and the Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi have both taken a swipe at each other over the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
The New Diplomat reports that last week, the Federal Government announced the commencement of construction work on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning 9 States with two spurs leading to the Northern States.
The Federal Government had also begun the demolition of properties affected by the right of way on the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway construction.
However, Obi who had been a strong critic of Tinubu’s administration particularly since the government embarked on the Lagos-Calabar coastal project, described it as a “job-losing one and misplaced priority.”
Obi who took to his official X handle tweeted that Tinubu is creating more unemployment and destroying investments that paid taxes, as the Landmark Beach Resort, reportedly worth $200 million, was adversely affected.
The former Anambra governor lamented that thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector facing imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4,000 mostly youth employees.
Reacting to the comment of the former presidential candidate, Umahi, a two-time governor of Ebonyi state knocked Obi for allegedly trying to incite the Igbos against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said: “It brings to some of the comments made by my brother, his Excellency Mr Peter Obi; I am not supposed to comment about it because some people have already done the work.
“And I know what Arise Television brought courtesy of Channels Television; they were bringing similar scenarios when His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement saying, ‘Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.’ That’s what he said.
“But look at me, by the human face of the Renewed Hope agenda administration, we are even paying for people who are illegally staying on the coastal line and don’t have valid infrastructure and valid documents. That is mercy, that’s mercy… You know, some people darken counsel without knowledge. You know there’s the devil in the details.
“When you condemn people, you bring judgment upon yourself. And that is what he (Obi) has done. And I think he’s inciting some of the people in the southeast who are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble. And he doesn’t go to fight for them. Wisdom is a defense. And I want our people to have wisdom because I am involved.
“There’s is no inhumanity meted to Landmark, that matters should be buried because I was there. And so we fought everything possible. Some people even donated property to save his two big infrastructures. That’s appreciation. But some people have taken sides along with him to play politics,” he added.
In a swift reply, Obi who took to his official X formerly Twitter, denied inciting the Igbos against Tinubu.
The former governor also issued a stern warning to Umahi to stop throwing unfounded accusations in an attempt to spoil his image.
He wrote: “Regarding allegations of incitement against the government, I firmly reject these unfounded accusations aimed at tarnishing my character.
“My focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics. Claims of incitement are baseless distractions. I have always advocated for unity and advancement, refusing to partake in reactionary divisive politics.
“I refuse to be reduced to the level of those who wallow in ethnic politics. Worse still, I have never and can never descend so low as to base my political aspirations on any sectional or ethnic interest.
“My commitment to serving with integrity remains steadfast, and I encourage all Nigerians to unite for a prosperous future. In conclusion, I stand by my record as governor and reject any attempts to distort the narrative for political gain.
“My commitment remains unwavering: to advocate for the rights and well-being of all Nigerians, ensuring that development initiatives prioritize the needs of the people. Most importantly, I will continue to insist that our national resources be applied with maximum frugality. -PO”
