Umahi: nobody wants obi dead, he’ll contest and lose 2027 election
Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed claims by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, that his life is under threat, insisting that no one wants to harm him.
Speaking during an inspection of federal road projects in Ebonyi State on Friday, Umahi said Obi would remain alive to participate in the 2027 presidential election, where he predicted the former Anambra governor would be defeated.
The minister was reacting to Obi’s recent allegation that he had received threats because of his criticism of the federal government and his concerns about Nigeria’s political atmosphere.
Umahi described Obi’s remarks as a reflection of frustration, maintaining that there was no reason for anyone to wish him harm.
He said the opposition politician’s fears were linked to his belief that the South East remained his political base after the 2023 election, which Umahi described as “an accident of history.”
According to the minister, the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure projects and appointments in the South East have reshaped political sentiments across the region.
Umahi argued that many residents now support President Bola Tinubu because of what he described as visible development and inclusive governance, rather than what he called “Artificial Intelligence politics.”
He also renewed his challenge to publicly debate Obi on the achievements of the Tinubu administration and the impact of the federal government’s policies in the South East.
