The Minister of Works, David Umahi, accused the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of stirring up the people in the southeast, especially those who are not well-informed, against the federal government.
Umahi made these remarks at an event organized by the Federal Ministry of Works to compensate property owners affected by the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
The ongoing construction of the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has been surrounded by controversy due to the demolition of the Landmark Beach Resort, worth $200 million, to make way for the project, which is expected to cost the federal government N15 trillion.
Following the demolition, Paul Onwuanibe, the Group CEO of Landmark, expressed concern that 70 percent of the beach was destroyed by the government bulldozer, calling the action “insensitive.”
“What is left of these businesses are the rubbles you can see (in video clips he captured while the demolition was going on). Those are people’s investments and means of livelihood reduced to mere rubbles; so many jobs have been lost, and many Nigerian families are in for it,” Onwuanibe said.
Obi criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for moving forward with the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project despite public opposition.
He expressed concern that the government is investing in a project that will result in job losses during a time of high unemployment.
Obi suggested that it is not too late to cancel the project and focus on more pressing issues like national security, poverty reduction, healthcare, and education for the less fortunate.
He also condemned the demolition of businesses and homes in the project’s path, calling it insensitive and heartbreaking as it destroys livelihoods, investments, and jobs.
In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said: “The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due to the current situation in the country. However, reports as of yesterday indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.
“The sight of this insensitive demolition is heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers.
“This hasty flag-off defies the widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners directly affected by the project. Nobody knows the outcry that will accompany this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.
“Thousands of jobs are about to be lost, with investments above $200 million at risk. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face imminent extinction, along with 80 small businesses and their 4000 mostly youth employees.”
Umahi maintained that Landmark was not treated inhumanely and believed the issue should be put to rest since he was personally involved.
The ex-governor of Ebonyi State accused Obi of criticizing others, which he believed would ultimately lead to negative consequences for Obi himself.
He said: “It brings to some of the comments made by my brother, his Excellency Mr Peter Obi. I am not supposed to comment about it because some people have already done the work. And I know what Arise Television brought courtesy of Channels Television; they were bringing similar scenarios when His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement, saying, ”Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.” That’s what he said.
“But look at me, by the human face of the renewed hope agenda administration, we are even paying for people who are illegally staying on the coastal line, and don’t have valid infrastructure and valid documents. That is mercy, that’s mercy… You know some people darken counsel without knowledge. You know there’s the devil in the details.
“When you condemn people, you bring judgment upon yourself. And that is what he (Obi) has done. And I think he’s inciting some of the south east people that are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble. And he doesn’t go to fight for them. Wisdom is a defence. And I want our people to have wisdom because I am involved.
“There’s is no inhumanity meted to Landmark, that matters should be buried because I was there. And so we fought everything possible. Even some people donated property to save his two big infrastructures. That’s appreciation. But some people have taken sides along with him to play politics.”
