Umahi pays tribute to Buhari, hails him as a man of honour and selfless service
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of honour, discipline, and integrity who served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, fairness, and selflessness.
Umahi made the remarks on Thursday while signing the condolence register at the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, offering a heartfelt tribute to the late leader.
Reflecting on Buhari’s life and legacy, Umahi recalled him as a humorous, generous, and deeply patriotic figure who was committed to national unity and development. He praised Buhari’s leadership, both as a former military Head of State and a democratically elected President, noting that his contributions left a lasting imprint on Nigeria’s trajectory.
“I personally believed that a man with such discipline, integrity, honesty, and selfless service to humanity would live up to 100 years,” Umahi said. “The last time I spoke with him was during the Salah before the last one. While he was in office, I always gave him Abakaliki rice, and he loved it. Even after he left office, I kept sending it. When I did, he called and said, ‘I’m not missing Abakaliki rice even out of office.’”
Umahi also recounted Buhari’s strong support for Ebonyi State, especially during a critical political moment when the emergence of the current governor was at risk.
“When some forces tried to frustrate the emergence of the current governor, he stepped in and directed the party leadership to uphold the right candidate,” he said.
Recalling Buhari’s visit to Ebonyi, Umahi said the former president commissioned projects from morning until night.
“While escorting him to his room that night, he said, ‘Governor,’ and I answered. Then he said, ‘You know how to punish somebody very well.’ And I replied, ‘You signed for it, sir.’ He always had a great sense of humour,” Umahi added.
He also mentioned the renaming of the Ebonyi airport, which was initially named after Buhari, only for the late president to later rename it after the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo before leaving office.
“That’s how selfless he was,” Umahi said. “I’d almost say I was his most beloved governor. There was nothing I asked from him that he didn’t grant—whether it was the Paris Club refunds, the Anchor Borrowers’ Fund, or other federal interventions.”
Umahi expressed profound sadness at Buhari’s passing, saying it has left a deep void and a moment of national grief. He extended his condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Buhari family, and all Nigerians mourning the loss of a leader who, in his words, “embodied honesty, discipline, and service.”
