The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has slammed the former Southeast spokesperson to the President, Denge Josef Onoh, over what it described as attempts to sweep the tragic and suspicious death of Mary Habila under the carpet.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its national president, Comrade Isah Abubakar, NYCN maintained that it’s not going back on its demands, stressing that contrary to claims by Onoh, the Council’s position is not based on ethnic or political sentiments.
The Council faulted the former presidential spokesperson for his statement published in some national newspapers where he accused the NYCN of politising Habila’s death.
“By doing so, he has chosen political sycophancy over the sanctity of human life. If this tragedy had happened to Onoh’s daughter or his biological sister, would he be standing on this same soapbox, offering the same defensive excuses for a sitting Minister of the Federal Republic?
“It’s easy to preach patience and “due process” when it’s not your own blood lying cold in a mortuary.”
According to the statement, NYCN’s position has always been universal justice. “We have a long, documented track record of demanding justice and accountability across all six geopolitical zones. We’ve spoken out consistently against insecurity, extrajudicial actions, and injustice affecting Nigerians regardless of their ethnic, religious, or regional affiliations.
NYCN noted that every Nigerian life is sacred, pointing out that Habila was a young Nigerian professional whose life was cut short under deeply questionable circumstances. “Our concern is humanity and justice—not tribalism.”
“Our position remains clear, logical, and unshakeable: Senator David Umahi cannot continue to occupy the office of the Minister of Works while the investigation into a death at his private residence is ongoing.
“As a powerful former governor and a highly influential sitting Minister of the Federal Republic, Umahi possesses immense political and structural weight. Allowing him to remain in office while the police conduct their probe introduces an unacceptable risk of administrative and political influence over the investigators.
“In any civilized democratic society, it’s standard global practice that public officials under active investigation step down from their offices. This ensures a transparent, uncompromised, and completely unbiased investigation that commands public confidence. Why should Nigeria’s standards be lower?
NYCN insisted that its stand is sacrosanct.
“Let it be known to Onoh, the Federal Government, and the general public that the NYCN won’t back down.
Our actions and our demands are sacrosanct.
“We won’t be silenced, intimidated, or gaslighted into dropping this matter.
“We insist that Minister David Umahi must immediately step aside from his ministerial duties to allow the authorities to conduct a truly independent, rigorous, and untainted forensic investigation into what happened to Mary Habila.”
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