Obi tells Umahi: Become Presidential Candidate First Before Challenging Me To Public Debate

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Gregory Obi, has dismissed the invitation to public debate by the Works Minister Dave Umahi’s, saying Umahi must first become a presidential candidate before challenging him.
Obi spoke in an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo in line with an Igbo adage that water naturally flows from the top to bottom and bottom up. 

Responding to questions about Umahi’s call for a debate following his criticism of the condition of some federal roads, Obi noted that the issue had already been arguing that his criticism of a deteriorating road had prompted the government to begin repairs.
“First of all, I already started the debate by standing on that road and saying the road 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. There is nothing else to debate.”
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections further maintained that if Umahi, actually wanted to challenge him in his capacity as a presidential candidate, the minister would first have to qualify for that position.
According to Obi, “If he is inviting me to a debate as a presidential candidate, then he has to become a presidential candidate first.

“I am a presidential candidate. Around the world, not all presidential candidates participate in debates. It is usually the leading candidates. It is like someone in Division One asking a Premier League team to play a match. No. You compete within your own level. When he becomes a presidential candidate, then he can debate with those who are in that category,” even as presidential debates are traditionally reserved for candidates seeking the nation’s highest office, insisting that such engagements should be between presidential contenders rather than ministers or other public office holders.

Obi further likened  the situation to a football team that failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup attempting to challenge one that had already earned its place in the tournament.

“The World Cup is going on now. You cannot stay outside and invite a team that qualified for the World Cup to come and play against you simply because you think you are good. No. There is a qualification process,” he added.
Umahi had earlier dismissed Obi’s criticism of the Tinubu administration and challenged him to a debate on the Federal Government’s performance, insisting that President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure projects and appointments had transformed the South-East.