Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed comparisons between him and former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying he does not consider Obi superior to him in family background, intellectual capacity or public service record.
Umahi made the remarks on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State, during the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event.
The minister was reacting to comments comparing his political profile with that of Obi, insisting that such comparisons should be based on their backgrounds, achievements and contributions to the South-East.
He said, “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?”
Umahi defends support for Tinubu
Umahi also defended his continued support for President Bola Tinubu, saying members of the administration would not remain silent when the President and his government were criticised.
According to him, those serving under Tinubu have a responsibility to defend the administration while carrying out their duties.
“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,” Umahi said.
The minister also described Obi as “a lucky person” while responding to criticism surrounding the former Anambra governor.
‘Igbos will become president’
Speaking on the 2027 presidential race and the prospect of an Igbo president, Umahi said the South-East would eventually produce Nigeria’s president.
However, he maintained that he believed the presidency was not currently the turn of the South-East.
“What we are saying is that it is not the turn of Igbos yet,” he said.
Umahi rejected claims that the Igbo would never occupy the presidency, stressing that the South-East would eventually produce a Nigerian 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 added.
Umahi announces Benin-Asaba Road redesign
The Minister of Works also announced plans by the Federal Government to redesign the 136-kilometre Benin-Asaba dual carriageway with reinforced concrete pavement.
He said the decision followed the failure of three options presented to the road concessionaire for the continuation of the agreement.
According to Umahi, the Federal Government has commenced temporary intervention works on the highway while developing plans for its long-term reconstruction.
The minister clarified that the emergency rehabilitation of the road had not been awarded to Hitech or any other contractor.
Instead, he said the Ministry of Works had hired equipment belonging to contractors already operating along the corridor, including Hitech, CECC and CBC, to carry out the temporary intervention.
Umahi said the ministry was still sourcing additional equipment and expected the emergency work to continue for about four weeks.
