The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has accused Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, of inciting people of the South-East against the Federal Government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
The minister stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting on the road projecton on Wednesday in Lagos.
The coastal highway will run through the Lagos shoreline of beach resorts in Lagos, while passing through eight other states.
Since the announcement of the commencement of the project, it has been generating controversy with many expressing concerns over the business it would affect.
Obi, in a post on X on Tuesday, described the project as a misplaced priority and urged the Federal Government to discontinue the project.
While responding to the criticism of the project by Obi, Umahi said the former LP presidential candidate supported the demolition of structures for road infrastructure while he was in office as governor.
Umahi condemned Obi for criticising the Federal Government on the project, saying that the affected property owners are already being compensated.
“When you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is what he has done.
“I think he is inciting some of the South-East people that are not well informed.
“He is inciting and getting them into trouble and he does not go to fight for them.
“Wisdom is a defence. It gives light to those who practice it. I want our people to have wisdom because I’m involved,” he said.
Umahi insisted that the facilities of the Landmark Beach owners were not destroyed. According to him, only shanties on the right of way were removed.
He accused the owners of Landmark Beach of playing politics, adding that there was no unfair treatment meted on them in the construction of the project.
