By Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that his life is under threat, describing the claim as a reflection of political frustration.
Speaking while inspecting some of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing legacy infrastructure projects in Ebonyi State at the weekend, Umahi said there was no reason for anyone to wish Obi dead, insisting that the former Anambra State governor should remain alive to participate in the 2027 presidential election.
The minister argued that President Tinubu’s infrastructure projects and what he described as the administration’s deliberate inclusion of the South-East in national development had weakened Obi’s political influence in the region.
According to Umahi, the growing support for the Tinubu administration in the South-East stems from visible developmental projects rather than political rhetoric. “Nobody wants Peter Obi dead. It is not reasonable. We all want him alive to contest the election and watch himself lose again,” Umahi said.
He further claimed that Obi’s confidence in the South-East as his political stronghold was based on what he described as “an accident of history” during the last presidential election. “He believes the South-East is his catchment area because of the last election, which I call an accident of history. But we have brought visible development to the zone, and our people now agree that they are better off with President Tinubu completing the good work he is doing for us than engaging in what I call artificial intelligence politics,” he added.
Umahi also restated his readiness to publicly debate Obi on the achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly the federal government’s infrastructure projects and appointments involving the South-East.
He maintained that the region has benefited significantly under the current administration and urged residents to support the President’s re-election bid.