The Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Sunday condemned the unfair slander that Peter Obi and other opponents had perpetrated against Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
Obi and his backers had publicly blasted Umahi for overseeing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, claiming it was a waste of tax dollars.
In a statement released by its Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze stated that the organisation remained unwavering in the face of a barrage of unjustified criticism and unfounded insults directed at Umahi’s visionary efforts and the Lagos Calabar Coastal Road.
It said the cacophony of disparagement and negative fervour surrounding these transformative initiatives raised eyebrows and prompts reflections on the true motives behind such aggression; clearly not in the interest of the Nigerian people.
“In response to the recent controversies clouding the Lagos Calabar Coastal Project, Ohanaeze Ndigbo unequivocally denounces the unjust vilification aimed at Senator Dave Umahi by Peter Obi and other detractors.
“Setting the records straight, Ohanaeze calls for private dialogue and constructive engagements rather than resorting to public confrontations that could impede the much-needed infrastructural development in the Southeast.
“The recent expressed interest by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in reconstructing major federal highways in the Southeast is a monumental step towards remedying decades of neglect, exemplified by ongoing projects like the Markudi-Nsukka-Nightmile-Enugu,the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the Aba-Ikot Ekpene-Calabar Expressway and others, enabled by innovative Cement Technology,” the body said.
Ohanaeze urged Obi to seek diplomacy and engage privately with Umahi to gain firsthand insights into critical national development projects.
The organization stressed the importance of fostering respectful dialogue and discouraged actions that could sow discord among the Igbo community and Nigerians at large.
The body said it is privy to intelligence reports debunking the baseless arrest rumours swirling around Obi, dismissing these as spurious fabrications propagated by malicious elements seeking to undermine the transformative infrastructure strides led by the Tinubu administration under the able stewardship of Umahi.
“It is imperative for Peter Obi to refrain from public acrimony towards Senator Dave Umahi, a stalwart of progress and development in Nigeria and the Southeast, in recognition of the monumental efforts by President Tinubu and Umahi to rectify longstanding infrastructural deficits in the region.
“The Southeast craves an infrastructural revolution that transcends political affiliations, cherishing progress over petty opposition accolades,” Ohanaeze stated.
Ohanaeze emphasised its clarion call for unity and mutual understanding and reiterated support for the contentious Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, asserting that the shoreline falls under the Federal Government’s Right-of-Way jurisdiction.
“Ohanaeze reaffirms the unwavering solidarity of Nigerians and the Igbo community in championing President Tinubu and Senator Umahi’s laudable efforts in advancing national infrastructure, exemplified by the recent allocation of a 2.75 billion compensation fund for affected property owners along the project’s Right-of-Way.
“In conclusion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering harmonious dialogues, unity, and progress for all Nigerians. The organization echoes a clarion call for collaborative advancement to ensure a prosperous and united Nigeria,” the body said.
