Minister of Works, David Umahi
By UKA NWAFOR, Abakaliki –
Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has reaffirmed his dedication to President Bola Tinubu and his administration, especially as Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 elections.
In his remarks during the 2025 Sallah celebration for the Muslim community in Abakaliki, Umahi stressed the administration’s commitment to fostering religious and ethnic inclusivity and tolerance across the country, proclaiming that it had reached an “excellent level.”
During his address, Umahi in his usually oratory display stated, “I serve both God and President Tinubu with the fear of God.” He commended the Tinubu administration for promoting what he termed an “unprecedented” level of interfaith harmony and national integration across Nigeria.
The Minister, further, acknowledged, among other things, the tremendous improvement in the relationship among different faiths in the country, noting the President’s historic gesture of leading a Nigerian delegation to the Pope’s inauguration.
He described this moment as “unique and historic,” symbolizing genuine respect for all faiths.
“The foundation of all religions is love,” Umahi urged, calling on Nigerians to prioritize shared values instead of dwelling on differences. “We all serve one God in different ways. Both Muslims and Christians preach love and the fear of God,” he added.
Addressing earlier concerns regarding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, Umahi pointed out in stances of balance in religious representation in federal appointments as a testament to inclusiveness. According to him, Christians currently occupy approximately 62% of federal appointments while Muslims hold about 38%. “That shows national cohesion in practice,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Umahi highlighted the increasing interreligious collaborations in the Southeast, noting the significant participation of Christians in Muslim festivities.
Despite receiving late notice, several Christian leaders, including the Southeast Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, attended the Sallah celebration in a show of solidarity.
On the topic of infrastructure, Umahi credited President Tinubu with revitalizing federal investment in the Southeast, asserting, “Before now, many Southeast states had no federal projects. But today, the federal presence is visible across the region. That is true national integration.”
He commended the President for appointing individuals from the Southeast to prominent positions, including himself as Minister of Works, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Minister of Science and Technology. Umahi viewed these appointments as vital steps toward reintegrating the region into national governance.
“We lost political ground in the past, but this government is bringing us back. It’s not yet perfect, but we are no longer left behind. We must acknowledge that and support the President,” Umahi urged his audience.
The former governor called on the people of the Southeast to reject divisive narratives and engage constructively with the federal government, emphasizing the importance of unity.
“The Southeast must count one before counting two. We need to reintegrate,” he concluded.
