Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has denied lobbying for or nominating his son, Osborn Umeze Umahi, as a local government chairman in Ebonyi State, saying the governor was behind the decision.
In remarks carried in a TVC from 6:29 media report, Umahi said the nomination came from the governor and not from him.
The minister recalled that when he learnt of the development, he told his wife they should allow their son to continue working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) instead of chasing the local government chairmanship.
That position, he said, triggered trouble at home, particularly with his wife, who challenged his stance, asking why he would stand against their son’s opportunity after he himself had served as governor.
Umahi said he eventually came under pressure from both his wife and the governor, leaving him with little room to stop the process.
He explained that despite his initial reluctance, the nomination proceeded.
The minister also rejected claims that he arranged or influenced his son’s emergence as local government chairman, insisting the governor was responsible for the nomination and could publicly confirm it.
He stressed that he did not initiate the nomination and had initially preferred that his son remain in his NNPC job.
Reflecting on the family tension the matter caused, Umahi said, “You’ve been governor, the son of another mother and you don’t want my son to be local government chairman.”