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, describing the statement as a product of frustration and political distraction.
Speaking on Friday during an inspection of ongoing federal infrastructure projects in Ebonyi State, Umahi said there was no basis for Obi's claim, insisting that no one wanted him dead.
He also accused the former Anambra State governor of persistently attacking President Bola Tinubu, warning that he would continue to respond whenever the president was criticised.
"If Peter Obi attacks Tinubu, I will attack him," Umahi said.
The minister argued that Obi had become unsettled by what he described as the Tinubu administration's visible infrastructure development in the South-East, adding that the projects had changed public perception in the region.
According to Umahi, the administration's investment in roads and other infrastructure has strengthened support for President Tinubu in the South-East, contrary to Obi's political expectations.
"Nobody wants Obi dead; it's not just reasonable. We all want him alive to contest this election and watch himself lose again," he said.
Umahi further claimed that Obi had considered the South-East his political stronghold following the last presidential election but said ongoing development in the region had altered the political landscape.
"What he is afraid of is because he said the South-East is his catchment area because of the last election, which I call an accident of history. But we have come with visible development in the zone, and our people have now agreed with us that we are better off with President Tinubu to complete the good works he is doing for us than playing Artificial Intelligence (AI) kind of politics," he said.
The minister also challenged Obi to a public debate on the achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly on infrastructure and the government's engagement with the South-East.
"Some people asked me why I'm attacking Obi. My brother, I'm not attacking him; I'm just saying the truth. But he should stop attacking President Tinubu and should support and commend his infrastructure development ongoing in the South-East and beyond," Umahi said.
He maintained that President Tinubu had given the South-East greater attention in infrastructure than previous administrations and called on the people of the region to support the president.
"President Tinubu will be there till 2031 to complete the good jobs he's doing across the six geopolitical zones in the country. Nobody has remembered the South-East in terms of infrastructure, but Tinubu has done that, and we have to reciprocate that by voting for him massively in the South-East. I will not regret what I'm saying today because I'm on the path of the truth," he added.
