The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi turned down his invitation to a public debate because he believed he could not compete with his record in public service.
Umahi made the assertion in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, in response to Obi’s recent comments dismissing the debate challenge.
The minister had invited Obi to a public discussion comparing their achievements during their respective tenures as governors, noting that both served two terms in office.
Speaking in a recent interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Obi dismissed the invitation, saying Umahi should first become a presidential candidate before seeking a debate with him. He argued that such debates are reserved for presidential contenders.
The former Anambra State governor compared the situation to a football team that qualified for the FIFA World Cup being challenged by one that failed to qualify.
Reacting, Umahi said the proposed debate had nothing to do with political ambition or election status but was intended to allow Nigerians assess their records in governance.
According to the statement, many Nigerians had expected what could have been an important conversation on leadership and public service. It said Obi rejected the invitation on the grounds that he remained a presidential candidate while Umahi was not.
The minister insisted that the challenge was about accountability, not political office, stressing that both men had governed states and should be willing to present their achievements for public evaluation.
Umahi also highlighted his career in public office, saying his experience extends beyond serving as governor of Ebonyi State. He listed his previous roles as 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.
He contrasted this with Obi’s public service record, stating that the former Anambra governor’s highest elective office remains governor, adding that he has never served as a minister, senator or party chairman.
The statement further maintained that Umahi’s leadership had consistently been tested through elections, public scrutiny and increasing national responsibilities.
Highlighting his achievements, the minister pointed to roads, bridges, flyovers, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure completed during his administration in Ebonyi State, alongside ongoing federal road projects being executed under his supervision as Minister of Works.
Umahi also questioned Obi’s emphasis on financial savings during his time as governor, arguing that governance should be measured by visible development and projects that directly improve the lives of citizens rather than money left in government accounts.
He further alleged that Obi governed Anambra State for most of his eight-year tenure without democratically elected local government chairmen, relying instead on caretaker committees until local government elections were conducted shortly before he left office.
The minister reiterated that he remains ready to participate in a debate on any credible platform, insisting that anyone seeking to lead Nigeria should be prepared to defend their performance in public office.
He added that Nigerians deserve the opportunity to compare the records of those aspiring to lead the country and judge them based on verifiable achievements rather than political rhetoric.
