Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed claims by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that his life is under threat, insisting that no one is interested in harming the former Anambra Governor and that he would remain alive to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Umahi made the remarks on Friday during an inspection of ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State, where he also criticised Obi’s recent comments about the country’s political atmosphere.
Obi had earlier alleged that he had received threats because of his persistent criticism of the Federal Government, raising concerns over what he described as increasing intolerance of opposition voices in Nigeria.
Reacting to the allegation, Umahi described the claim as unnecessary, saying nobody wished Obi harm and expressing confidence that the former presidential candidate would contest the next general election only to be defeated once again.
The minister argued that Obi’s fears were linked to his belief that the South-East remained firmly behind him after the 2023 presidential election, a perception Umahi said no longer reflected the political reality in the region.
According to the former Ebonyi State Governor, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has won greater support in the South-East through key infrastructure projects, appointments and other interventions, adding that many residents now prefer continuity under the current administration to what he described as “Artificial Intelligence politics.”
Umahi also reaffirmed his willingness to publicly debate Obi on the achievements of the Tinubu administration, maintaining that the Federal Government has treated the South-East fairly and delivered tangible development across the zone.
