The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has described calls for the resignation of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, over the death of Miss Mary Habila as premature and lacking sufficient basis.
In a statement issued on Friday in Enugu, the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, said while Habila’s death was a tragic incident that deserved sympathy, it also required a thorough, transparent and professional investigation before any conclusions or political actions could be justified.
Chukwu expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, friends and colleagues, urging Nigerians to remain calm and avoid comments that could prejudice the ongoing investigation or create unnecessary public tension.
He also warned politicians, advocacy groups and public commentators against politicising the incident, stressing that the loss of a human life should not be used to advance political or sectional interests.
The Ohanaeze spokesman commended Umahi for calling for a comprehensive forensic autopsy and a full investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death.
He also expressed confidence in the ongoing probe by relevant authorities, urging investigators to conduct the process professionally, impartially and without external interference.
According to him, the outcome of the investigation must be based solely on facts, scientific evidence and due process.
Addressing the demands for Umahi’s resignation, Chukwu insisted that they were unwarranted at this stage.
“The mere fact that death occurred within the premises where an individual resides or is present does not, in itself, establish culpability or warrant demands for resignation.
He further noted that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, which guarantees that every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Chukwu urged Nigerians to allow investigators to complete their work and refrain from speculation capable of undermining public confidence in state institutions or compromising the search for the truth.
He expressed hope that the investigation would establish the facts surrounding Habila’s death, provide her family with the answers they deserve and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law.
