Kehinde Fajobi
Hon. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has said that former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, is better placed to respond to the audit query alleging unauthorised expenditure of ₦4.64 billion during the 2020–2021 financial year.
In a statement on Wednesday, Orji criticised a publication that linked the audit query to Umahi, calling it “petty and self-serving propaganda.”
He stated: “Our attention has been drawn to a piece of petty and self-serving propaganda contained in the trending publication made by a newspaper (name withheld) on 20th November 2024, and the unwarranted and insensible sensations sought to be achieved by the makers of the publication.”
According to Orji, the report from the Auditor-General of the Federation investigated the financial management of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing during Fashola’s tenure, not under the leadership of Umahi.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the investigation was said to have been conducted on the financial management of the Ministry under the previous administration, not under the Renewed Hope administration,” Orji clarified.
He accused the publication of intentionally misleading the public by using Umahi’s name and image.
“We are surprised by the pettiness of brazenly and unconscionably placing the picture and name of the serving Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, in the caption of their publication.
“This was clearly done to mislead gullible and unsuspecting readers into believing that the individual referenced was the current Honourable Minister of Works,” he said.
The statement emphasised that the allegations were tied to the past administration and accused detractors of trying to distract Umahi from his reforms in the works sector.
Orji said: “The activities of these desperate detractors are well known, but they should rest assured that there is no going back on the Honourable Minister’s determination to revamp the works sector and liberate it from the whims and caprices of cartels who, for years, have hindered progress in providing Nigeria with cost-effective and enduring road infrastructure.”
He added: “The track record and antecedents of the Honourable Minister of Works are well known and in the public domain.
“He cannot be blackmailed by the antics of those seeking to perpetuate the old order in the works sector.
“He remains focused and battle-ready against the major inhibitors of progress in the sector.”
Orji called on the public to disregard the report and acknowledged the Minister’s focus on improving road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope administration.
He concluded, “Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard the false impression created in the Punch newspaper publication of 20th November 2024, as it was sponsored to undermine public perception of the modest efforts of the Federal Ministry of Works under the Renewed Hope administration.”