Minister of Works David Umahi has questioned claims that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi left more than $50 million in the state’s treasury, arguing that government savings alone are not a reliable measure of successful leadership.
Speaking during a media appearance on Channels Television, Umahi said Obi’s successor, Willie Obiano, inherited unpaid obligations that reportedly depleted the funds.
“Somebody was telling me when we had a small debate that Peter left $50 million after he left office, and I told him two things. Obiano said to Peter Obi, ‘Look, you left this money in the bank, but look at the contractors you are owing.’ So by the time he took the money and paid the contractors, everything was in the negative,” Umahi said.
The minister argued that governments should prioritise infrastructure and economic development over accumulating savings while citizens face hardship. He also accused supporters of the former Labour Party presidential candidate of attempting to downplay the achievements of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the ongoing coastal highway project.
Umahi urged Nigerians to support the administration’s policies, saying its achievements should be assessed on the basis of development projects rather than what he described as “AI politics.”
