Minister of Works, David Umahi, has revealed what President Bola Tinubu told him after the death of his staff member, Mary Habila, at his private residence in Ebonyi State led to public outrage and calls for his removal from office.

Speaking in a video following his birthday, which was on July 25, Umahi said he was surprised that some people turned the incident into a political issue by demanding that the President sack him.

According to the minister, Tinubu did not entertain the calls for his removal but instead encouraged him to remain focused on his duties.

“Power and might does not belong to social media, it belongs to God. And God sees the heart of men. What surprised me is that when people took the death of one of my best workers and started to play politics, they said the President should sack me,” Umahi said.

Questioning the basis of the calls for his dismissal, he added, “Why should you sack me? For doing what? So anybody that is working with you and dies, then you must be sacked? But the President surprised all of them. Instead, he said, ‘Dave, go and build more roads.'”

Umahi also explained why he cancelled celebrations for his birthday, saying he was mourning the loss of Habila and one of his uncles, who also died around the same period.

“Together with one of my uncles who also collapsed after watching Egypt in a World Cup match, the two deaths made me say we would not do any outward celebration for my birthday. That is why I directed all over the country that it should not be celebrated because we are mourning,” he said.

The minister accused some people of trying to profit from the incident and using it to score political points. He insisted that neither he nor any member of his family had anything to do with Habila’s death.

“My prayer is this: if any member of my family or I had any hand in it, let our own fate be worse than that. But for those who want to profit from it, for those who want to play politics with it, I give the same prayer to them. If what they are saying is correct, let it be well with them. But otherwise, over the death of the young lady, their own will be worse than that. It’s a fair prayer,” he said.

It was reported last week that Habila’s body was moved from Ebonyi State to Abuja for a forensic autopsy following consultations involving her family, legal representatives and authorities investigating the case.

The transfer came after lawyers representing Umahi sought the family’s consent for a forensic examination. The family agreed to the autopsy but requested that it be conducted in Abuja and that the investigation be transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory to ensure transparency and fairness.

In a letter from the family’s lawyer, they stated: “That our client hereby agrees and consent for an autopsy on the body of Late Mary Habila subject to the transfer of the case to the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, FCT.”

The family also said the decision was taken “to quench the thirst of the General Public, for transparency, fairness and ensuring that the true cause and manner of the deceased death are conclusively established.”

Habila died on June 27 at Umahi’s private residence in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Since then, the case has generated widespread public interest, with many Nigerians calling for a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Umahi has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintained that a comprehensive forensic autopsy is necessary to determine the exact cause of Habila’s death. He has repeatedly urged the public to allow investigators complete their work and avoid drawing conclusions before the investigation is concluded.