The standard-bearer for the Labour Party during the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has brushed off the public debate invitation extended by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, noting that the former governor needs to secure a major party’s presidential ticket first.
In a concise comeback delivered by his media team on Saturday, Obi highlighted that it is out of place for him to enter a policy discussion with a presidential proxy or cabinet minister when he holds the status of a former presidential contender.
The reaction follows recent statements from Umahi, who openly challenged the former Anambra State Governor to a televised showdown centered on national road development projects and the broader infrastructure record of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“While we recognize the Minister’s enthusiasm to speak on behalf of his employer, Mr. Obi operates on a national leadership platform that necessitates debating with peers who carry equivalent political mandates, not appointed cabinet members,” the statement noted.
The opposition figure urged the Works Minister to concentrate his energy on resolving the deplorable state of major federal highways across the country rather than chasing political media spectacles.
Obi concluded by emphasizing that whenever Umahi decides to enter the presidential arena and successfully secures a ticket, he would be more than willing to engage him in a comprehensive debate regarding the country’s development.
