Minister of Works David Umahi has accused Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, of initiating their public disagreement over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

Umahi made the allegation during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, saying he did not criticise the former Anambra State governor before Obi confronted him at the construction site.

“I did not criticise Peter Obi; he started the confrontation by coming to the construction site where I was working and publicly castigating me,” Umahi said.

The former Ebonyi State governor also accused Obi of failing to publicly condemn inflammatory remarks allegedly made by his supporters.

Umahi cited a statement reportedly made by one of Obi’s followers, claiming that Obi would win an election even if Jesus Christ were a candidate. He described the remark as an affront to the Christian faith and said he expected Obi to distance himself from it.

“One of them reportedly said that even if Jesus contested in an election, Peter Obi would win. That is an affront to our faith, and I expected Peter Obi to speak out against such a statement,” the minister said.

The disagreement between both politicians stems partly from their opposing positions on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Obi has criticised the project as a misplaced priority, while Umahi has defended the federal government’s investment in the road.

Umahi has also accused Obi of encouraging opposition to the Federal Government among people in the South-East, further deepening the public dispute between the two politicians.