By Divine Sam

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has accused Peter Obi of initiating their disagreement over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, insisting that he did not provoke the former Anambra State governor.

Umahi made the allegation during an exclusive interview with Arise Television on Friday, where he explained that the dispute began when Obi visited the highway construction site and publicly criticised his handling of the project.

According to the minister, Obi was responsible for the confrontation, particularly over his management of federal road projects.

“We all determine our own destinies. I did not criticise Peter Obi; he started the confrontation by coming to the construction site where I was working and publicly castigating me,” Umahi said.

The former Ebonyi State governor also faulted Obi for allegedly failing to caution some of his supporters over comments he considered offensive to the Christian faith.

Umahi cited a reported statement by one of Obi’s supporters, who allegedly claimed that the former Anambra governor would win an election even if Jesus Christ were a candidate.

He described the remark as inappropriate and said Obi should have publicly condemned it.

“One of them reportedly said that even if Jesus contested in an election, Peter Obi would win. That is an affront to our faith, and I expected Peter Obi to speak out against such a statement,” he said.

The latest exchange adds to the ongoing disagreement between the two politicians over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of the Federal Government’s major infrastructure projects.

Obi has questioned the government’s decision to prioritise the coastal highway, describing it as a misplaced priority amid concerns about the condition of existing roads and the country’s economic challenges.

Umahi, however, has defended the project and previously accused Obi of encouraging opposition to the Federal Government among people in the South-East.

The dispute has continued to draw attention as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, with both men maintaining opposing positions on the highway project and the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure policies.