The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has described the late former President Muhammadu Buhari as “a man of honour, discipline and integrity” whose leadership left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s development trajectory.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Orji Uchenna Orji, following Umahi’s tribute at the signing of a condolence register at the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.

The statement reads partly: “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 office.’”

Umahi recounted how Buhari supported Ebonyi State during his tenure as governor, recalling several interventions and personal interactions.

“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,” the statement added.

The minister also described Buhari’s decision to rename the Ebonyi airport, initially named after him, as an act of selflessness.

“We built the airport and named it after him, but before leaving office, he renamed it after the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo. That’s how selfless the man was,” it stated.

Umahi further expressed deep condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the family of the late former president, and Nigerians at large.

He praised Tinubu for honouring Buhari’s legacy, saying: “I thank very highly the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. The former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged during Tinubu’s second year in office that the man helped him to actualise his destiny to be the President of Nigeria.”

The minister prayed for God’s comfort for all Nigerians in this moment of grief.