By Joy Onu
The media office of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has criticised former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for declining an invitation to a public debate on their respective records in office, insisting that the proposed engagement was intended to assess governance and not political ambition.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, said the debate would have allowed both former governors to present their achievements for public scrutiny, enabling Nigerians to judge their performance based on verifiable records.
According to Nwaze, Obi declined the invitation on the grounds that he is a presidential candidate while Umahi is not.
The minister’s aide, however, argued that the invitation had nothing to do with electoral status but was designed to promote accountability by comparing each leader’s record in public office.
“It was about inviting two former governors to present their records before Nigerians and allow the public to judge whose leadership produced the greater impact,” the statement said.
He maintained that governance should be measured by tangible achievements rather than political narratives, adding that Umahi remained ready to defend his record before Nigerians.
The statement highlighted Umahi’s progression in public service, noting that he had served as a businessman, state party chairman, deputy governor, governor, chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, co-chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, senator and now Minister of Works.
It contrasted this with Obi’s career, saying his highest elective office was Governor of Anambra State.
Nwaze also outlined projects executed during Umahi’s administration in Ebonyi State, including concrete road networks, flyovers, bridges, hospitals, schools, urban renewal projects and other public infrastructure.
Among the projects listed were the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, the Ecumenical Centre, Ebonyi Shopping Mall, the New Government House, the State Judiciary Complex, the Margaret Umahi International Market, fertiliser blending facilities, water schemes and drainage infrastructure.
The statement further cited Umahi’s current supervision of major federal road projects under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Calabar-Abuja Super Highway and the rehabilitation of strategic highways nationwide.
Describing the projects as evidence of performance, Nwaze said, “These are not campaign promises. They are ongoing projects visible to every Nigerian.”
On Obi’s tenure as governor, the minister’s aide acknowledged that the former governor frequently highlighted the financial savings recorded by his administration but argued that fiscal prudence should be weighed alongside physical and institutional development.
“Keeping money in the bank while leaving contractors unpaid and failing to complete meaningful, life-impacting projects cannot, by itself, be regarded as an achievement. Ultimately, leadership is measured by the tangible improvements it delivers to the lives of the people,” the statement added.
The statement also alleged that Anambra State operated largely without democratically elected local government chairmen during Obi’s administration until local government elections were held in January 2014, shortly before he left office.
Nwaze said the proposed debate was intended to focus on measurable outcomes in governance, including roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, public institutions, urban renewal and economic development, rather than personalities or political parties.
He added that Umahi remained willing to participate in the debate on any credible platform, expressing confidence that leadership should be assessed on the basis of lasting value delivered to the people.
Peter Obi had not responded publicly to the latest claims by the minister’s media office as of the time of filing this report.
