Umahi Accuses Obi of Starting Highway Project Dispute

David Umahi, the Minister of Works, accused Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of starting their confrontation regarding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. During an interview with ARISE News, Umahi stated that he did not attack Obi but was responding to criticisms Obi allegedly made during a visit to the construction site.

Umahi claimed that Obi publicly castigated him, initiating the dispute. He also criticized Obi for not addressing inflammatory comments made by his supporters, particularly one suggesting that even Jesus Christ would lose an election to Obi.

Umahi described this remark as offensive to his Christian faith and expected Obi to publicly condemn it. The disagreement between the two politicians has expanded beyond the project’s merits, with both exchanging criticisms regarding their positions and conduct.

Obi has criticized the highway project as a misplaced priority, while Umahi defends it based on its engineering specifications and the challenging terrain.