Minister of works, David Umahi, berated Peter Obi of Labour Party for inciting ignorant Igbos against President Bola Tinubu’s government.
He added that Mr Obi brought judgment upon himself by criticising Mr Tinubu over a similar action he once justified when he was governor of Anambra State.
“It brings me 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.
“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,” Mr Umahi said.
Speaking Wednesday during an event organised by the ministry of works to compensate property owners affected by demolition due to the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, Mr Umahi dismissed Mr Obi’s criticisms as inciting.
Mr Umahi said contrary to Mr Obi who refused to compensate those affected by demolitions done during his tenure as governor of Anambra, the Tinubu-led government is compensating affected property owners.
“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,” Mr Umahi said.
He added, “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 (Mr Obi) has done.
“And I think he’s inciting some of the south east people that 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.”
Mr Obi had criticised Mr Tinubu’s government over the demolition of part of Landmark Beach Resort Beach, which violated the right of way due to the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday, the former Anambra governor described the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction as a “job-losing project” embarked upon “at a time of rampant unemployment.”
“It’s time to question the rationale and timing of this and similar projects. The nation is in its worst economic state in history, with poverty and hunger spreading. The basic necessities of life are beyond reach for most Nigerians,” Mr Obi said.
