Put Peter Obi and Me side by side, tell me where he is better than me – Umahi

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has rejected suggestions that former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is superior to him in any area.

Umahi made the remarks on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State, while speaking at the ‘Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road’ event, where he also defended his support for President Bola Tinubu.

The minister said any comparison between him and Obi should take into consideration their family backgrounds, intellectual capacity, records of public service and contributions to the South-East.

Reacting to comments attributed to one Awuzi, who he said 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 Tinubu administration should remain silent when the President is criticised.

“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.

He added, “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 took exception to the suggestion that Obi was not his “match”, saying the statement prompted him to reflect on whether there was any basis for placing the former Anambra governor above him.

“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 done for the people of South-East? Is it what we did when we were governors?

“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,” he said.

On the 2027 presidential election, Umahi said the South-East would eventually produce Nigeria’s president but maintained that, in his view, the region’s turn had not yet arrived.

“What we are saying is that it is not the turn of Igbos yet. I heard today one charlatan that was saying, ‘Oh no, the Igbos can never be president’.

“That man 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,” Umahi said.

His comments came as he defended the Tinubu administration against criticism and reaffirmed his position that government officials would respond when the President’s record was challenged.

Umahi Announces Benin-Asaba Road Redesign

Speaking on the condition of the Benin-Asaba Road, Umahi said the Federal Government had commenced temporary intervention on the major highway while working on a longer-term solution.

He said the government had offered three options to the concessionaire for the continuation of the agreement, but the proposals failed to secure an agreement.

According to the minister, President Tinubu had consequently directed that the entire 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba dual carriageway be redesigned with reinforced concrete pavement.

Umahi said the government had also defined the project and would undertake immediate intervention around the Benin Bypass.

He further clarified that the emergency rehabilitation was not awarded to Hitech or any other contractor. Instead, the ministry hired equipment belonging to contractors already operating along the corridor, including Hitech, CECC and CBC, for the temporary intervention.

He said additional equipment was still being sourced, with the temporary rehabilitation expected to be carried out over the following four weeks.

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