Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, claims Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, is instigating the Igbo people in the Southeast to protest against the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, potentially destabilizing the region.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made the accusation on Wednesday in Lagos, while addressing a compensation event for owners of demolished structures, paving the way for the project’s progress.
Umahi noted that Obi has been a staunch opponent of the project, calling it a “job-losing” venture and a “misguided priority” since President Tinubu’s administration launched the initiative.
In a recent tweet, Peter Obi slammed President Tinubu’s policies, claiming they are fueling unemployment and devastating tax-paying investments, citing the $200 million Landmark Beach Resort as a prime example of the devastating impact.
Peter Obi, former Anambra governor, sounded the alarm on the looming job crisis, warning that thousands of jobs are on the chopping block, with the leisure and hospitality sector facing a devastating blow that could claim over 100,000 jobs and push 80 small businesses, employing 4,000 young people, to the brink of collapse.
However, the former Umahi countered Obi, saying that he had done a similar thing when he was governor of the state and did not compensate the affected individuals.
He noted that Obi was only inciting some unsuspecting residents of the South-East against Tinubu’s government, cautioning him to desist from such.
The former Ebonyi governor said, “It brings to some of the comments made by my brother, his Excellency Mr Peter Obi; I am not supposed to comment about it because some people have already done the work.
Read also: Coastal Highway: Umahi Begins Demolition Of Landmark Beach
“And I know what Arise Television brought courtesy of Channels Television; they were bringing similar scenarios when His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement saying, ‘Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.’ That’s what he said.
“But look at me, by the human face of the Renewed Hope agenda administration, we are even paying for people who are illegally staying on the coastal line and don’t have valid infrastructure and valid documents. That is mercy, that’s mercy… You know, some people darken counsel without knowledge. You know there’s the devil in the details.
“When you condemn people, you bring judgment upon yourself. And that is what he (Obi) has done. And I think he’s inciting some of the people in the southeast who are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble. And he doesn’t go to fight for them. Wisdom is a defence. And I want our people to have wisdom because I am involved.
“There’s is no inhumanity meted to Landmark, that matters should be buried because I was there. And so we fought everything possible. Some people even donated property to save his two big infrastructures. That’s appreciation. But some people have taken sides along with him to play politics,” he added.
In a controversial statement, Maryanne Moghalu, wife of Kingsley Moghalu, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party, warned investors against investing in Lagos State, cautioning that doing so would come with significant risks.
After cautioning investors about investing in Lagos State, Maryanne Moghalu has come under fire from Nigerians, including Reno Omokri, who have accused her of spreading hate and bigotry with her message.