‘Put His Credentials Beside Mine’ — Umahi Fires Back at Obidients

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has lashed out at supporters of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, urging them to engage in objective comparisons rather than resort to insults.

Umahi, a former Governor of Ebonyi State, said his long record in public service speaks for itself and challenged critics to compare his credentials and achievements with those of their preferred candidate.

“For the Obidients insulting me, let’s be very objective, I have been Party Chairman, Deputy Governor, Governor, Senator, and Minister. Then put the credentials of your principal beside mine, and then let us see what I did as Governor of Ebonyi State and what he did. You have no right to insult me.” – Umahi said.

The minister argued that political disagreements should be based on facts and performance rather than personal attacks, insisting that public office holders should be assessed by their records and contributions to governance.

Umahi served as Governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023 and is widely associated with major infrastructure projects undertaken during his administration, particularly in road construction, flyovers and urban renewal initiatives.

Since his appointment as Minister of Works, he has continued to play a prominent role in the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive, overseeing several ongoing road projects across the country.

His comments are the latest in a series of exchanges involving leading political figures and supporters of opposition parties as political activities and alignments ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.

The remarks have already sparked reactions across social media, with supporters and critics debating the records of political leaders and the standards by which public officials should be evaluated.

Umahi maintained that criticism is a normal part of democratic engagement but stressed that political discourse should remain respectful and anchored on facts, performance and verifiable achievements.