Umahi mourns Buhari, says he liked Abakaliki Rice

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi 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. 

Umahi made the remarks in a tribute to the late former President shortly after signing condolence register in the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi-Abuja, on Thursday.

Umahi recounted 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.

Umahi stated that Buhari's legacies as a Military Head of State and a democratically elected President left lasting impressions on the landscape of the nation's developmental history.

"I personally believe 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," Umahi recalled.

He further recounted that when the former President came to Ebonyi State he commenced commissioning of projects from 9 o'clock in the morning 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."

Umahi said that the former President has left moments of grief and a great vacuum of an indelible loss in the hearts of Nigerians. 

He conveyed his condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the family and associates of the late former President,and indeed all Nigerians for the sad loss.