Obi Reacts To Umahi’s Incitement Claim

The Labour Party’s nominee for president in 2023, Peter Obi, has dismissed as unfounded the claim that he is inciting the South-East to rebel against the federal government.

This was contained in a statement on the official X handle of obi on Thursday.

It would be recalled that the minister of works David Umahi, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, accused Obi of inciting people in the southeast to oppose the federal government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

Umahi claimed that during his tenure as governor of Anambra, Obi carried out the demolition of buildings for road infrastructure. The former governor of Anambra refuted the accusation, calling it a “baseless distraction” meant to damage his reputation.

He said his “focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics.”

However, Obi noted that he would not reduce himself to the level of those who wallow in ethnic politics.

He stated, “Regarding allegations of incitement against the government, I firmly reject these unfounded accusations aimed at tarnishing my character.

“My focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics.

“Claims of incitement are baseless distractions. I have always advocated for unity and advancement, refusing to partake in reactionary divisive politics.

“Worse still, I have never and can never descend so low as to base my political aspirations on any sectional or ethnic interest.”

Obi has criticised the federal government over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project on multiple occasions, calling it an inappropriate priority. The 700-kilometer Lagos–Calabar coastal route is being built by the federal government and is anticipated to pass through eight states and the beach resorts along Lagos’ shoreline. 

Concerns about financing and the businesses that would be impacted by the project during construction have sparked controversy.

The “insensitive” demolition of buildings for the project, according to the former governor of Anambra, was “heart-wrenching.” 

In response to the removal of buildings, Obi claimed that throughout his time as governor, he made it very clear that any buildings that blocked existing roadways or lacked permission would be taken down. 

In order to prove that the “demolished structures on existing roads or ongoing businesses were not encroaching on the road and built without government approval,” he challenged anyone to present proof.

Obi added that it amounts to false equivalence to compare his actions as governor with the current Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

He said, “I never proposed creating a new road that would disrupt existing structures.

“My actions were strategic, aiming to prioritise the repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure over projects that risked disruption and destruction.

“This approach aimed to safeguard the livelihoods of Nigerians and ensure the efficient use of resources,” he said.