Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has rejected claims that he is no match for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, insisting that their backgrounds, intellectual capacity and records of service can be compared.
Umahi made the remarks in Benin City on Thursday, September 24, while reacting to comments suggesting that Obi was superior to him in terms of achievements and standing.
The minister said he was taken aback by the assertion and took time to consider whether Obi had a clear advantage over him in family background, intellectual capacity or contributions to the South-East.
“And when that guy says that Peter Obi is not my match, it took me ten minutes to think about it; is it in my larger family background that his is better than my own? Is it in intellectual capacity? Is it in what we have done for the people of South-East? Is it what we did when we were governors?” Umahi asked.
He added, “So, when you say he is not a match, put it side by side and tell me what Peter Obi is better than this Dave Umahi. You can’t be tackling counsel without knowledge.”
Umahi also addressed the question of an Igbo presidency, saying he believed it was not yet the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s president.
He said the Igbo would eventually occupy the presidency, dismissing claims that the region could never produce a president.
“What we are saying is that it is not the turn of Igbos yet. I heard today one charlatan saying, ‘Oh no, the Igbos can never be president.’ That can will not be alive when the Igbos become president because we will one day become president, but it is not yet our turn,” he said.
According to the minister, the presidency should remain with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for now.
