Minister of Works David Umahi has rejected claims that anyone wants Peter Obi dead, calling the former Anambra governor's recent statement a sign of desperation. Umahi made this remark while touring legacy projects of President Tinubu across Ebonyi State on Friday.
The minister warned Obi to stop criticising the president or face retaliation. "If Peter Obi attacks Tinubu, I will attack him," Umahi told reporters during the inspection.
Umahi believes Obi's frustration stems from losing political ground in the South East. He argued that the president's visible infrastructure investments in the region have undermined Obi's once-dominant appeal there.
"Nobody wants Obi dead, it's not just reasonable," the minister said. "We all want him alive to contest this election and watch himself lose again."
Umahi contended that Obi wrongly claimed the South East as his stronghold based on a previous electoral performance he dismissed as accidental. "He said South East is his catchment area because of the last election which I call accident of history, but we have come with visible development in the zone," Umahi explained.
The minister stressed that South Eastern voters now recognise President Tinubu's track record as superior to opposition rhetoric. "Our people have now agreed with us that we are better off with President Tinubu to complete the good works he is doing for us than playing artificial politics," he added.
Umahi challenged Obi to a public debate on the administration's achievements. He denied attacking Obi personally, framing his comments as honest assessment rather than assault.
"I'm not attacking him; I'm just saying the truth," Umahi stated. "But he should stop attacking President Tinubu and should support and commend his infrastructure development ongoing in South East and beyond."
The minister highlighted the federal government's commitment to the region's development. He noted that previous administrations had neglected the South East, whereas Tinubu had prioritised infrastructure projects there.
"President Tinubu will be there till 2031 to complete the good jobs he's doing across six geopolitical zones in the country," Umahi said. "Nobody has remembered South East in terms of infrastructure but Tinubu has done that and we have to reciprocate that by voting for him massively in South East."
Umahi concluded by standing firmly behind his remarks. "I will not regret what I'm saying today because I'm on the path of the truth," he told reporters.
