The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi on Thursday disclosed that contractors during his tenure as Ebonyi State Governor had access to him.
According to Umahi, when the contractors reach out to abuse him, he takes turn to abuse them also, adding that it is freedom of speech.
He further stated that he had one line and responded to phone calls and text messages when he was governor.
Umahi, while speaking on Channels TV, charged contractors in the country to be willing to change the country’s infrastructure system in Nigeria.
The minister said, “When I was governor, I had only one line and I responded to all text messages and phone calls.
“They call me to abuse me and sometimes I abuse them back – that is the beauty of democracy – freedom of speech and I am also human.
“If you just abuse me unduly without any reference to the job, I will find a mild way to also abuse you back by telling you to be reasonable, not that I am going to use foul language”.
The former governor of Ebonyi State also warned against the misappropriation of public funds in office, adding that there are consequences attached to the act.
He said, “In my reviewing process of the books, I have not seen the likelihood of anybody taking money from the project. They are giving money out, they are giving money from their legitimate profit.
“It’s not the problem of people taking money from them, they have to make up their minds to work for Nigerians. They have to make up their minds that this is public funds and I tell people that public funds have a lot of problems because, when you take public funds without using it to work, you are taking lives and it has a lot of consequences.”
Umahi also stated that President Bola Tinubu will allocate funds for the construction of quality roads across the country.
The Minister noted that the significant issue encountered in road development is the construction cost.
