Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has declined Works Minister David Umahi’s invitation to a public debate, maintaining that such engagements are reserved for individuals contesting for the presidency.
According to Obi, Umahi would first need to become a presidential candidate before a debate between them could be considered.
The exchange followed Umahi’s response to Obi’s criticism of the poor condition of the Abuja-Keffi Road.
The minister had challenged the former Anambra State governor to a public debate on the state of federal roads, while defending the infrastructure projects being executed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Umahi also argued that the Federal Government was making significant progress in addressing road infrastructure nationwide and insisted that Obi posed no political threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Obi dismissed the need for any debate, saying the issue that sparked the disagreement had already been addressed after the Federal Government moved to rehabilitate the road in question.
“I already started the debate by standing on that road and saying it was bad. The only reply should have been that the road was good. But I thank him because he is now repairing the road, so the debate is closed,” Obi said.
Obi further stressed that debates involving presidential hopefuls are specifically designed for those seeking the country’s highest office and not for government officials appointed by the executive.
“If he is inviting me to a debate as a presidential candidate, then he has to become a presidential candidate first,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor reiterated that presidential debates have traditionally been limited to candidates contesting the presidency, adding that political appointees do not ordinarily share such platforms with those seeking election into the nation’s top office.
