Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed claims that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi poses any political threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Daybreak Show on Tuesday, July 7, monitored by The News Chronicle Umahi insisted that neither President Tinubu nor the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is worried about Obi’s growing political profile, describing the Obidient movement’s influence as “AI politics.”
“Even I cannot be scared of Peter Obi, not to talk about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or our party, the APC,” Umahi said.
“What displays around Peter Obi is AI politics. It is putting something on nothing. Nobody is scared of Peter Obi. He is not a threat to our president because Peter Obi himself knows very well that he cannot even face me, let alone face the president.”
Umahi also took a swipe at Obi’s eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State, arguing that the former governor has no moral grounds to demand President Tinubu’s resignation.
Reacting to reports that Obi had called on Tinubu to step down, Umahi questioned Obi’s own record in office.
“I asked myself: How many times did Peter Obi resign as governor of Anambra State for failure to fix the roads, failure to establish industries, failure to empower people, failure to establish an airport or a seaport, or for failure to pay contractors?” he said.
The minister further accused supporters of the Obidient movement of intolerance, alleging that dissenting voices are frequently met with insults, threats and legal action.
“Look at the pattern of politics around Peter Obi. You disagree with him, then he takes you to court. How many times have you been abusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? How many people has he taken to court?” Umahi asked.
“Look at the Obidient movement. You disagree, they insult people, they wish people dead, they issue threats and all kinds of things. Is that the kind of behaviour we want?” he added.
