Peter Obi’s time as Anambra State governor came under attack on Tuesday after Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the former governor did not achieve the things he now expects President Bola Tinubu to deliver. Umahi argued that Obi should not ask the president to resign when, in his view, he did not take similar action over problems during his own eight years in office.
The remarks came as political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election continues to gather pace. Obi has been one of the strongest critics of the Tinubu administration, often pointing to economic hardship and calling for better governance.
Umahi, however, said Obi’s past record should also be judged before he criticises the president. He listed roads, industries, transport projects, empowerment programmes and payments to contractors as areas where he claimed Obi fell short while leading Anambra State.
During an interview on Arise Television’s Daybreak Show, Umahi questioned why Obi did not resign while serving as governor if he believed leaders should leave office over poor performance.
“I read where it was said that Peter Obi said Tinubu should resign because of this, and I asked myself: How many times did Peter Obi resign as governor of Anambra State for failure to fix the roads, failure to establish industry, failure to empower people, failure to establish an airport, or failure to establish a seaport? Failure to pay contractors,” Umahi said.
The minister used those points to argue that Obi’s criticism of the current government should be viewed alongside his own time in office.
He also defended President Tinubu’s work, saying the administration inherited serious economic and structural problems that built up over many years. Umahi said such problems cannot be solved within three years and compared economic recovery to healing a wound that takes time.
He asked people to judge the government by looking at areas such as roads, education and health, insisting that reforms are beginning to produce results.
Umahi rejected claims that Obi is a political threat to President Tinubu or the ruling APC ahead of the next election.
He described what he called the political excitement around Obi as “AI politics” and argued that it creates a bigger picture than reality.
“Even I cannot be scared of Peter Obi, not to talk about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or our party, the APC. 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,” he said.
Umahi also criticised some supporters of the Obidient Movement. He claimed people who disagree with Obi often face insults, threats or legal action. He said such behaviour should not become part of Nigeria’s political culture.
The minister invited Obi’s supporters to examine the Tinubu administration’s record and compare it with what he described as the achievements of the current government.
He also argued that none of the opposition figures preparing for the 2027 election can match President Tinubu’s performance.
“None of the political aspirants or candidates from other parties can do what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing. There are a lot of successes and reforms that are beginning to yield a lot of dividends. None of them can do what this man is doing,” Umahi said.