The Peter Obi Media Office (POMO) on has accused the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, of abandoning his responsibilities in the mining sector to engage in partisan political attacks against the former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office described Alake’s criticism of Obi over developments in Anambra State as a distraction from what it called the growing challenges confronting the nation’s solid minerals sector.
The statement alleged that the minister should focus on addressing issues surrounding the recent deaths of 37 persons linked to mining activities, rather than engaging in political exchanges.
According to the group, the country is mourning the loss of lives allegedly resulting from failures within the mining sector, insisting that the minister owes Nigerians explanations on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The Obi media office questioned who authorised the operation that led to the incident, what safety measures were in place, who failed in carrying out oversight responsibilities and what steps would be taken to ensure accountability.
It argued that a tragedy of such magnitude should compel government officials to concentrate on reforms and corrective measures instead of political commentary.
The statement further maintained that the victims were not mere statistics but Nigerians whose deaths underscored the dangers posed by illegal, unsafe and poorly regulated mining activities.
It accused the Federal Government of failing to effectively tackle illegal mining operations and strengthen regulatory mechanisms needed to protect vulnerable youths seeking livelihoods in the sector.
POMO also faulted the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, alleging that it had failed Nigerians across critical sectors of the economy and governance.
The media office insisted that the solid minerals sector should be driven by safety, regulation and sustainable development, urging the minister to focus on addressing the challenges under his supervision rather than engaging in what it described as political shadow-chasing.
The statement was issued in response to recent remarks credited to Alake, in which he reportedly criticised Obi’s performance during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
