The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has said former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, declined his invitation to a public debate on governance and performance, maintaining that leadership should be evaluated on verifiable achievements rather than political narratives.
According to an official signed statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works on Media, Francis Nwaze, the proposed debate was intended to provide Nigerians with an opportunity to compare the records of both former governors based on tangible developmental achievements rather than personalities, party affiliations or campaign rhetoric.
The statement said Peter Obi declined the invitation on the grounds that he is currently a presidential candidate while Senator Umahi is not, adding that the minister believed the proposed engagement was never about electoral status but about accountability and measurable performance in public office.
Umahi was quoted as saying that governance should be assessed through concrete results, arguing that political ambition should not prevent public office holders from presenting their records for scrutiny.
The statement highlighted Umahi’s public service trajectory, describing it as spanning the private sector, party leadership, Deputy Governor, Governor of Ebonyi State, Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Co-Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and currently Honourable Minister of Works.
It contrasted this with Obi’s public service record, noting that his highest elective office was Governor of Anambra State.
The minister’s aide further listed several infrastructure projects executed during Umahi’s tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State, including the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, the David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Uburu, the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, the Ecumenical Centre, the Ebonyi Shopping Mall, the New Government House, the State Judiciary Complex, the Margaret Umahi International Market, multiple hospitals, schools, water schemes, drainage infrastructure and 23 flyovers across the state.
The statement also pointed to Umahi’s current role as Minister of Works, where he is overseeing major federal infrastructure projects under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Calabar-Abuja Super Highway and the rehabilitation of strategic federal highways nationwide.
On Obi’s tenure in Anambra State, the statement acknowledged his emphasis on fiscal discipline and savings but argued that financial prudence should be weighed alongside physical infrastructure, institutional development and lasting socio-economic impact. It also alleged that Obi governed Anambra State for most of his tenure without democratically elected local government chairmen, relying instead on caretaker committees until local government elections were conducted shortly before he left office.
According to the statement, the proposed debate was designed to focus on verifiable outcomes in areas such as roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, urban renewal, economic development and public institutions, allowing Nigerians to independently assess the governance records of both former governors.
The minister reaffirmed his readiness to participate in such a debate on any credible platform, expressing confidence that leadership is ultimately measured by the enduring value created for the people.
