Minister of Works, David Umahi
By Our Reporter
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, exhibited what many observers described as ungentlemanly on Tuesday, when walked out on journalists covering the activities of the works ministry in Abuja.
The minister abruptly exited the ministry’s conference room where the correspondents were gathered, asserting that the press was nonexistent.
The invited journalists, who had been waiting for over 50 minutes, were surprised by the minister’s sudden departure
The invited reporters received the press invite two hours before the event.
Umahi arrived at 2:50 pm and after reciting the national anthem and pledge, quickly ended the meeting, saying, “There is no press here. The press conference is not held again. When the press is ready.
“The permanent secretary and other directors should follow me to my office. The press is not existent.”
Invited reporters present at the event included those from The Nation, The Guardian, Vanguard, Blueprint, Arise TV, Channels TV and NTA, among others.
Umahi, accompanied by other directors, departed from the conferenche hall to his office without offering further explanations or an apology.
The minister later denied walking out on the journalists.
While reacting to the reports, the minister’s Special Adviser (Media), Orji U. Orji, in a statement on Tuesday, described the reports as a misrepresentation of facts, saying that the shift of the press briefing was due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
