The Minister of Works, David Umahi, appeared to take a veiled jab at the Labour Party and supporters of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi widely known as the ‘Obidients’ during a press briefing in Abuja.
Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing on Friday, Umahi concluded his ministry’s performance report with remarks that hinted at political undertones. While acknowledging the efforts of his colleagues, Umahi subtly distanced himself from the opposition party and its supporters.
“I don’t want to be disobedient or be part of a party known for insubordination,” Umahi said, in an apparent reference to the Labour Party. “I want to commend my Minister of State for Works, the Permanent Secretary, and all the Directors. But the highest commendation goes to Mr. President.”
The statement, though brief, appeared to be a play on words aimed at the ‘Obidient’ movement—a term embraced by Peter Obi’s supporters during and after the 2023 elections.
Earlier in his address, Umahi lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reviving the long-abandoned Sokoto-Badagry road project—an initiative that dates back nearly five decades.
“This project was originally envisioned during President Shehu Shagari’s administration, around 47 years ago,” Umahi explained. “It was initially planned as the Badagry-Sokoto road, but in his typical detribalized fashion, President Tinubu directed that it be reversed to start from Sokoto and end in Badagry.”
He noted that such a massive infrastructure undertaking required not only vision but bold leadership, describing Tinubu as a man of “uncommon courage” capable of executing transformative projects.
Umahi, a former Governor of Ebonyi State, also praised Tinubu’s economic policies, claiming they are yielding positive results for Nigeria.
“Our GDP is on the rise, inflation is gradually declining, and we’re witnessing improvements in the foreign exchange market,” he said. “According to the World Bank, Nigeria is no longer in debt to them. We should all applaud Mr. President for his fearless leadership and decisive action.”
The minister’s remarks reflect both a strong alignment with President Tinubu’s administration and a clear political stance against the Labour Party—a move likely to fuel further political discourse as Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve.
