According to a report by Vanguard on July 17, 2025, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, offered a deeply personal tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, reflecting on their years of camaraderie and mutual respect. In a country where tributes often focus on policies and political legacies, Umahi chose instead to highlight a quieter, more human side of Buhari—his simple love for Abakaliki rice.
Umahi, who served as the governor of Ebonyi State before joining the federal cabinet, said he always made it a point to send Buhari local Abakaliki rice during festive seasons, especially while Buhari was in office. That act of sharing, according to him, was more than just political courtesy—it was a cultural connection that Buhari appreciated genuinely.
He revealed that even after Buhari left office, he kept the tradition alive. The former president, he said, remained grateful and always responded with warmth. One particular response stayed with him. “The last time I spoke with him was during the Sallah before this last one,” Umahi recalled. “While he was in office, I was always, as a governor, giving him Abakaliki rice, and he loved it so much. So, I had continued to do that. When I sent that Abakaliki rice to him, he called me, and he was very happy. He said, ‘I’m not missing Abakaliki rice even when I am out of the office’.”
The tribute paints Buhari not just as a former military ruler or democratic president, but as a man of simple tastes and loyal friendships. In a time of increasing detachment between leaders and citizens, such anecdotes serve as reminders that leadership can be rooted in humility, gratitude, and cultural pride. Through one bag of Abakaliki rice, Umahi showed that memories can last longer than power—and that true connections are built not just in the corridors of Aso Rock, but in quiet traditions shared over time.
