The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has alleged that Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, is inciting people of the southeast, especially those who are not well informed, against the government.
Umahi claimed that Obi would not fight for the people even
after getting them into trouble.
He made the statement on Wednesday while speaking during an
event to compensate property owners affected by the Lagos- Calabar coastal road
prospect.
The exercise was organized by the Federal Ministry of Work.
The 700-kilometre coastal highway has been enmeshed in
controversy following the demolition of Landmark Beach Resort, valued at $200
million, to create a right of way for the project which is estimated to cost
the federal government N15 trillion.
After the demolition, a visibly worried Paul Onwuanibe, the
Group CEO of Landmark, told BusinessDay that about 70 percent of the beach was
destroyed by the government bulldozer, describing the action as “insensitive.”
“What is left of these businesses are the rubbles you can
see (in video clips he captured while the demolition was going on). Those are
people’s investments and means of livelihood reduced to mere rubbles; so many
jobs have been lost and many Nigerian families are in for it,” Onwuanibe said.
On his part, Obi slammed President Bola Tinubu’s
administration for going on with the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal
highway project in defiance of public outcry.
The presidential candidate expressed displeasure that the
government is embarking on a job-losing project at a time of rampant
unemployment.
Obi said it was not too late to discontinue the
Lagos-Calabar highway project, adding that urgent necessities are nationwide
security, poverty eradication, healthcare, and education, especially for the
poor and underprivileged.
He had also described the reported demolition of businesses
and residences in the designated right of way for the project as insensitive
and heart-wrenching, lamenting that livelihoods were being wiped away, lifetime
investments wasted, and jobs disappearing as a result of the demolition.
In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra
State governor said: “The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due
to the current situation in the country. However, reports as of yesterday
indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right
of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.
“The sight of this insensitive demolition is
heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are
being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes
of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers.
“This hasty flag-off defies the widespread outcry by the
public, especially business and property owners directly affected by the
project. Nobody knows the outcry that will accompany this project as it
progresses towards poor rural landscapes.
“Thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with investments
above $200 million at risk. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality
sector face imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4000
mostly youth employees.”
However, Umahi insisted there was no inhumanity meted to
Landmark and that the matter should be buried because he was actively involved.
The former Ebonyi State Governor alleged that Obi goes
around to condemn people, thereby bringing judgment upon himself.
He said: “It brings 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. And I know what Arise
Television brought courtesy of Channels Television, they were bringing similar
scenarios 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.
“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… 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 (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.
“There’s is no inhumanity meted to Landmark, that matters
should be buried because I was there. And so we fought everything possible.
Even some people donated property to save his two big infrastructures. That’s
appreciation. But some people have taken sides along with him to play politics.
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Dave Umahi, focus on your assignment as a minister and talk less about Peter Obi. You have your president and i think it will sound better you sing song with Tinubu and stop making Obi more popular. I am aware that you are not Igbo simply because you are in Tinubu cabinet, but do realise that nothing last for ever.
ReplyDeleteThe winner of the 2023 Presidential Election which you and your paymaster stole shall remain the bone in your neck all through your stolen regime. Whenever he sneezes, you and your co-conspirators catch cold. Face your work, dis(Honourable Minister)
ReplyDelete