David Umahi defends position amid mounting public pressure over the Mary Habila, death controversy revealing that President Bola Tinubu dismissed calls for his removal and instead urged him to focus on infrastructure delivery.
The Minister of Works spoke in a video circulating on X on Monday, reflecting on the fallout that followed the death of Mary Habila, a nurse attached to his medical team, on June 27 at his residence in Ebonyi State.
The incident sparked nationwide concern and calls for investigation. It also led to a N20 billion lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ United Associations, SOKAPU, alleging breach of duty of care while Habila was under the minister’s custody.
“Go And Build More Roads”: Tinubu Ignored Sack Calls
According to Umahi, some individuals lobbied the President to sack him in the wake of the tragedy. But the President rejected the demand.
“Power and might don’t belong to social media, it belongs to God,” the minister said.
“When people took the death of one of my staff and started playing politics with it, they said the president should sack me, but the president surprised all of them and said, ‘Dave, go and build more roads.’”
The comment underscores how Tinubu ignored sack calls and chose to back his cabinet member during a period of intense media scrutiny.
Umahi described Habila’s death as deeply painful. He said he instructed supporters worldwide not to organize any celebration for his recent birthday out of respect.
“I was mourning,” he stated, adding a solemn prayer: “if he or any member of his family had any involvement in Habila’s death, ‘may our own end be worse than hers.’”
Ebonyi Autopsy Dispute With Family
Following the incident, the minister directed the Ebonyi State Police Command to conduct an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death. He also ordered that Habila’s remains not be released to the family until the post-mortem was completed.
That decision triggered a fresh clash. Habila’s family rejected the request, insisting no autopsy should be carried out and demanding that she be buried according to their traditions.
The standoff has become a central part of the Ebonyi autopsy dispute, with legal and cultural arguments now playing out in public. While the minister’s camp argues that a forensic examination is necessary for transparency, the family says it violates their right to mourn and bury their daughter.
Legal experts note that such disputes often balance between state investigative powers and family rights, especially when a death occurs in the home of a public official.
The N20 billion lawsuit by SOKAPU adds further pressure. The group alleges negligence and is seeking accountability for Habila’s death while she served on the minister’s medical team.
Minister Of Works Under Pressure But Stays Focused
Since taking office, Umahi has positioned himself as one of the administration’s most visible infrastructure drivers, with major road projects across the six geopolitical zones. The controversy threatened to derail that momentum.
Addressing the criticism, Umahi said the episode was being “politicized” on social media. He maintained that his priority remains delivering on the President’s Renewed Hope infrastructure agenda.
Political observers say the President’s directive for Umahi to “build more roads” signals continued confidence in the minister, despite calls for accountability from civil society groups.
The case has also reignited debate about the treatment of domestic and medical staff attached to public officials, and the protocols that should exist to protect them.
Vanguard gathered that the police in Ebonyi are still handling the matter, while the family maintains its position against an autopsy. No new date for the release of the body has been announced.
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Related developments show the story has drawn reactions from other public figures. Senator Orji Kalu recently hailed Tinubu’s engagement with stakeholders, calling for national unity amid rising political tensions.
For Umahi, the coming weeks will test how he balances grief, legal challenges, and public perception while staying on course with road projects nationwide.
He ended his video message with a call for prayers and for Nigerians to avoid spreading unverified claims. “Let us allow the law and God to take their course,” he said.
The Mary Habila death controversy remains unresolved, but the minister’s public address makes clear he does not intend to step aside. With the President’s backing and ongoing projects to deliver, David Umahi defends position and pushes forward, even as questions around duty of care and family rights continue.
