Minister of Works Dave Umahi has rejected comparisons suggesting that former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi is superior to him, saying their backgrounds, records and contributions to the South-East can be placed side by side.
Umahi made the remarks on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State, during the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event.
The minister said he saw no area in which Obi could be considered better than him, pointing to their family backgrounds, intellectual capacity, records of service and what they achieved while serving as governors.
“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?” Umahi said.
He added, “Is it in what we have done for the people of South-East? Is it what we did when we were governors?”
Umahi also defended his decision to respond to criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying members of the government would not remain silent when the President’s record was being challenged.
“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,” he said.
Umahi speaks on Igbo presidency
The minister also addressed the question of when the South-East could produce Nigeria’s president.
Umahi said the Igbo would eventually have the opportunity to produce a president, but argued that he believed the time had not yet come.
“What we are saying is that it is not the turn of Igbos yet,” Umahi said.
He added that the South-East would eventually produce Nigeria’s president, but maintained that the current political moment belongs to President Tinubu.
“I want to be president, but it’s not yet our turn. It’s the turn of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Umahi announces plan for Benin-Asaba Road
Speaking on the condition of the Benin-Asaba Road, Umahi said the Federal Government had begun temporary intervention while plans were being made for a broader reconstruction.
He said negotiations with the road concessionaire had failed after the government presented three options for continuing the agreement.
According to Umahi, the setback led to a new approach, with President Tinubu directing that the 136-kilometre dual carriageway be redesigned using reinforced concrete pavement.
“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,” he said.
Umahi added that there would also be immediate intervention on the Benin Bypass.
Source: Channels Television
