The Nigerian Youth Organisation (NYO) has announced its plans to confer “the Distinguished National Youth Merit Award of Excellence as Best Minister of the Year 2025” on the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi “in recognition of his commitment to infrastructure-driven national development.”
The NYO in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday while announcing its plans also cautioned Nigerians not to allow themselves to be misled by individuals who may be serving as a tool to distract a hardworking public official, especially as electioneering season is around the corner.
In the statement jointly by Comrade Okorie C. Okorie and Comrade Oluwabukunmi Awolola, the National Executive President and National Secretary of the NYO respectively, the foremost youth organisation, expressed “deep concern” over the media frenzy on the matter involving the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi and a lady accusing him of owing her, which has elicited public attention especially in the social media.
According to the group, “While the Nigeria Youth Organisation respects the constitutional right of every Nigerian to freedom of expression, we strongly condemn the growing trend of reckless, unsubstantiated and potentially coordinated online attacks targeted at public officials who are actively engaged in national development efforts. We advise Nigerians to exercise caution in consuming digital content and to refrain from believing everything encountered online without undertaking basic and responsible verification.
“We are particularly concerned by the timing, pattern and amplification of these commentaries, which raise legitimate questions as to whether such publications are spontaneous expressions of opinion or part of a sponsored attempt to distract and undermine the ongoing infrastructural reforms being championed by the Honourable Minister of Works. Nigerians must guard against being swayed by sentiment and emotional manipulation capable of distorting objective public discourse.”
The organisation noted that the inconsistencies in the stories bandied by the woman in question raise serious doubts on the veracity of her claims.
“In one of such videos currently trending across multiple digital platforms, a female commentator, Mrs. Tracy Nicholas Ohiri, made remarks which not only sought to malign the Honourable Minister but also extended disparaging commentary towards the prosecutorial authority involved in ongoing legal processes, going as far as describing the prosecutor as a criminal. A careful review of the said publications reveals speeches that are largely incoherent and videos that are inconsistent in both content and presentation. Notably, the commentator has also been inconsistent with respect to the dates and figures of money allegedly owed — at one instance alleging a sum of ₦25,000,000 and at another ₦250,000,000, while also variously referencing timelines of 3 years, 9 years and 12 years — thereby raising further concerns as to the credibility of the claims being propagated in the public space,” the statement read in part.
The NYO noted that the minister of works has distinguished himself with “verifiable” achievements and therefore should rather be celebrated instead of being harassed and denigrated on the grounds of unproven social media commentary.
The Organisation announced that it has already slated the minister to be honoured as the most performing minister for the year 2025.
The statement reads in part:
“Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi has, since assumption of office, distinguished himself through measurable performance in the execution and revitalisation of critical road infrastructure across the federation. His stewardship in the works sector has attracted commendation from stakeholders across professional, civic and youth constituencies. He undoubtedly deserves accolades for the giant strides he has recorded so far rather than the vilification arising from sponsored emotional and blackmailing contents.
“At a time when Nigeria requires focused leadership and sustained commitment towards economic recovery through infrastructural development, the Nigeria Youth Organisation considers any deliberate attempt to derail performing public servants through orchestrated misinformation campaigns as deeply regrettable and inimical to national progress.
“Accordingly, we call on the relevant security and regulatory agencies to investigate the origin, intent and possible sponsorship behind these trending publications in order to ascertain whether they form part of a coordinated digital misinformation campaign designed to discredit a serving public official and impede ongoing developmental initiatives.
“The Nigeria Youth Organisation wishes to reiterate its unwavering support for accountability, due process and responsible civic engagement. However, such engagement must be pursued within the bounds of decency, truth and national interest.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerian youths will resist any attempt to coerce or pressure the Honourable Minister into making any form of payment outside the dictates of the law, and should any such payment be made without due judicial pronouncement, we shall not hesitate to seek appropriate legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“It is against this backdrop of demonstrable performance and in recognition of his commitment to infrastructure-driven national development, that the Nigeria Youth Organisation has resolved to confer on His Excellency, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, the Distinguished National Youth Merit Award of Excellence as Best Minister of the Year 2025.”
