Peter Obi Throws Another Jab at Umahi, Says Tinubu Has Now Vindicated His Position
Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi has renewed his criticism of the Federal Government’s infrastructure policy, arguing that President Bola Tinubu’s recent comments have validated the position he has consistently maintained on public spending.
In a statement released on his X handle @PeterObi, he said governments should focus on rehabilitating existing infrastructure instead of embarking on new projects that could become abandoned or fail to deliver immediate benefits to Nigerians.
His remarks come days after President Bola Tinubu reportedly cautioned state governors against spending scarce public funds on unnecessary flyovers in areas with little traffic while more pressing developmental challenges remain unresolved.
Obi said he had long advocated the same approach but was frequently attacked by government officials and supporters for expressing that view.
“It is therefore noteworthy that President Bola Tinubu has now cautioned state governors against committing scarce public resources to constructing unnecessary flyovers while neglecting more pressing developmental needs,” Obi said.
Taking what appears to be another swipe at Minister of Works David Umahi, whose road and flyover projects have previously drawn criticism from the former governor, Obi argued that the President’s position reinforces his long-held belief that governments should prioritise projects with direct benefits to the people.
However, Obi maintained that the President’s advice should also apply to the Federal Government itself. He criticised what he described as the pursuit of unrealistic and “white-elephant” projects while many critical roads across the country remain in deplorable condition.
According to him, several major highways linking commercial centres and food-producing communities have become death traps due to years of neglect, despite the country’s limited financial resources.
Obi recalled that as Governor of Anambra State, he completed viable projects inherited from previous administrations before initiating new ones, stressing that governance should be driven by continuity rather than political credit.
He concluded that true leadership requires fixing existing infrastructure, completing ongoing projects, and ensuring that limited public resources are invested where they will have the greatest impact on the lives of citizens.
The latest statement is likely to reignite debate over the Federal Government’s infrastructure priorities and revive Obi’s long-running exchanges with Works Minister David Umahi over road construction and public spending.
