Works Minister Sen. Umahi Eulogizes Late Buhari for His Strong Statesmanship and Leadership

The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has described the late former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, as a man of honour, discipline, and integrity who loved and served his nation with unwavering dedication, fairness and selflessness.

A statement signed by Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, noted that the Honourable Minister made these remarks in a tribute to the late former President during the signing of a book of condolences at the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi-Abuja, on 17th July 2025.

He recounted some of the fond memories of the life and times of the former President, whom he said was a man of humour, generous heart and deep sense of commitment to national unity, and whose legacies as a Military Head of State and a democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have left lasting impressions on the landscape of the nation’s developmental history.

In an emotion laden tribute, he said, “I personally believed that such a man with so much discipline, integrity, honesty, and selfless service to humanity would live up to 100 years. The last time I spoke with him was during the salah before this last one. While he was in office, I was always, as a governor, giving him Abakaliki rice, and he loved it so much. So, I had continued to do that. And so, when I sent that Abakaliki rice to him, he called me, and he was very happy, and he said I’m not missing Abakaliki rice even when I am out of the office. He helped Ebonyi State very highly. He supported us. I can’t forget, even when the enemies of progress wanted to thwart the emergence of my present Governor, he stepped in and called the national chairman of our party, and gave him an order that it has to be the present Governor.”

The Hon.Minister further recounted, “I remember how he came to Ebonyi State, and from 9 o’clock in the morning, he was commissioning projects till 10 p.m. While I was escorting him to his room, he said, Governor and I answered. You know how to punish somebody very, very well. And I said to him, you signed for it, sir. You know he is a very humorous person. I also remember when we built the airport, and then we named the airport after him, and then, before the exit of his office, he renamed it after the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo. That’s how selfless the man was. I would almost say that I was the most beloved governor during his time. There’s nothing I sought from him that he didn’t give us. And collectively, as governors, he helped us so much. Is it the Paris Club fund, Is it the Anchor borrowers fund and other interventions.”

The Honourable Minister noted that the death of the former President has left moments of grief and a great vacuum of an indelible loss in the hearts of Nigerians.

He conveyed his deepest condolences to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the family and associates of the late former President, and indeed all Nigerians on this sad loss.

He commended the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the special accolades he accorded to his predecessor while alive and even in death.

“So, we miss him so badly, and the nation will miss him. And I thank very highly the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Irrespective of what people darkening council without knowledge may say, the former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged during the celebration of the second year in office of President Bola Tinubu, that the man helped him to actualise his destiny to be the President of Nigeria,”  Umahi emphasized.

He prays for God’s enduring fortitude on the hearts of all Nigerians at this moment of grief.