The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the suspension of the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, over the death of a nurse, Mary Habila, at his residence in Ebonyi State.
ADC made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The party, in the statement demanded that Umahi step aside from his role pending the conclusion of an independent investigation over the death of the nurse which ADC claimed to have increased the disturbing pattern of scandal-prone government under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration and the All Progressives Congress (ADC)
ADC accused the ruling party and the president of harbouring and defending scandal-ladened appointees.
“This case must also be viewed against an increasingly disturbing pattern in this scandal-prone government of APC under President Bola Tinubu.
“Time and again, whenever serious allegations arise around members of the administration, the default instinct of government is not to facilitate independent scrutiny but to build a wall of political protection around its own.
“Appointees of President Tinubu sit pretty in their offices even as mind-blowing scandals swirl around them.
“The Tinubu administration appears more eager to defend reputations than to establish facts and submit to accountability.
“Official statements are deployed laden with presumptions and bias even before independent inquiries have even begun.” The party stated.
ADC held that it has now become impossible to ignore the impression that APC administration allegedly operates a system of scandal insurance for its senior officials with proximity to power allegedly guarantee protection from accountability.
It therefore called for the suspension of Umahi, stressing that the minister cannot continue with his duties amid such scandal.
“But this is one scandal too many. This latest scandal is not just about financial crime; it is about the death of a young lady who reportedly died in the house of a senior Minister of this government.
“The least that should be expected is that the Minister, namely Senator David Umahi, should immediately step aside from office pending the conclusion of an independent investigation.
“Even in a blood-soaked country, human life remains sacrosanct. Therefore, a minister of Federal Republic cannot have a murder-related scandal hanging on his neck and still carry on with business as usual.” The ADC said.
Earlier in the statement, the opposition party held that the death of Habilah at Umahi’s house transcend private tragedy but a case of public accountability with answers on the circumstances that led to the nurse’s death.
“When a citizen dies in the home of a serving cabinet minister, the matter immediately transcends private tragedy and becomes a question of public accountability.
“The only acceptable response in a constitutional democracy is a thorough, transparent and independent investigation that commands public confidence.
“The explanations offered so far have done little to answer the questions that continue to trouble Nigerians.
“What exactly was the nature of Ms. Habila’s official assignment? Why was she residing in the Minister’s private residence? What were the precise circumstances leading to her death?
“What have investigators established so far? These are legitimate questions that can only be answered by facts and evidence, not assurances.
“We therefore call for an independent investigation that is completely removed from the control or influence of the Executive.” The ADC stated.
The inquiry, the party maintained, must include a full autopsy to determine the exact cause of Ms Habila’s death and a public report of its findings.
Meanwhile, the ADC warned that failure of Tinubu to ensure the free run of investigation and suspension of Umahi would clearly paint his cabinet as a place where political convenience consistently takes precedence over transparency and accountability.
The party extended its condolences to the family of the late nurse, stressing that they deserve to know the truth surrounding the death of their daughter.
“If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu refuses to insist on this elementary principle, then Nigerians will be left with only one conclusion: that his administration has become a Cabinet of Cover-ups, where political convenience consistently takes precedence over transparency and accountability.
“The ADC extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mary Habila.
“Their daughter deserves dignity. Her family deserves the truth.
“And Nigeria deserves a government that understands that accountability is not an inconvenience to be managed but the very foundation of public trust.” The ADC said.