By Amos Aar
Nigerians were aghast when a businesswoman Tracy Nither Nicolas Ohiri withdrew her allegations against Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Hee public apology to the former Governor of Ebonyi State in a video circulating on social media, stirred widespread reactions and renewed questions about the controversy.
In the trending video, Ohiri said she decided to retract her claims after consultations with her family, associates and legal advisers, noting that some of the allegations that gained traction in the public space were inaccurate.
She apologised to the minister for the embarrassment the claims may have caused him and his family, explaining that she was taking the step in order to move forward.
“I apologise to Engineer Dave Umahi for the embarrassment this allegation may have caused him and his family,” she said, while also announcing the withdrawal of the legal action earlier instituted in connection with the dispute.
Ohiri further clarified that certain claims widely circulated during the controversy did not originate from her, including reports suggesting that she met the minister in a hotel room under compromising circumstances.
She added that some of the issues referenced during the dispute were based on information she had seen online rather than personal experience.
The apology marks a dramatic twist in a controversy that had earlier drawn national attention after Ohiri accused the minister of sexual harassment and failure to pay for promotional services she claimed to have rendered during past political activities.
Reacting to the development, Edo State-based Civil Society advocate, Leftist Osazee Edigin, said the sudden reversal by Ohiri had made it difficult for the public to determine what truly transpired between the parties.
Edigin said the apology raises concerns about whether the earlier allegations were genuine, the result of intimidation, or the outcome of a private settlement.
“The dramatic turn by Ms Tracy Ohiri by apologizing to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi is concerning,” he said.
“It has now become difficult to ascertain if what she accused the minister earlier on was true, a case of threat to her life or a behind-the-scene settlement has occurred. No one can convincingly tell what may have caused the dramatic u-turn.”
According to him, the Nigerian public had closely followed the unfolding dispute and many sympathized with the businesswoman when the allegations first surfaced.
“The nation had watched the drama put up by the woman against the minister and have been sympathetic to her while condemning the alleged owing by the minister,” Edigin said.
“The minister on his part had denied knowing her and inviting the police to investigate her accusations which attracted human rights defenders like Omoyele Sowore to intervene and aligning with the woman.”
Edigin noted that the controversy should serve as a lesson for human rights defenders and public commentators on the need for thorough verification before publicly taking sides in disputes involving allegations of oppression or abuse of power.
“There are lessons to be learnt in all of these mostly from the part of human rights defenders to always try as much as possible to thoroughly investigate any matter before taking steps to defend an alleged victim of oppression and intimidation,” he said.
He also suggested that there could be other underlying issues behind the controversy.
“It is also possible the woman has somewhat mental health challenge,” Edigin said.
“The minister may also have a personal problem of not good in paying debts as common with some persons as a behavioral pattern irrespective of public status.”
Meanwhile, human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, also reacted to the apology video, questioning the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of the allegations.
In a statement shared on social media, Sowore said those who earlier supported Ohiri did so because they believed she was vulnerable in a dispute involving a powerful public official.
“We didn’t fight for her because we believed she was strong; we fought for her because we knew she was vulnerable and lacked the privilege needed to withstand her adversary, a powerful Nigerian minister,” he said.
Sowore further called for clarification over reports that funds may have been set aside to resolve the matter and questioned the circumstances surrounding the apology video.
“Perhaps Engineer David Umahi should explain where the N100 million reportedly set aside to settle the matter came from, along with the video he strongly demanded be made to exonerate him,” he added.
He maintained that his duty, and that of others who supported Ohiri, was simply to stand up for individuals perceived as weaker in confrontations with powerful figures.
The apology has since generated mixed reactions across social media, with some commentators welcoming the move as an effort to resolve the dispute, while others expressed concern over the circumstances that may have led to the retraction.
Dan Okpe, an Ilorin-based public commentator, in a chat with our reporter suspected the apology may have been tendered under pressure.
“It’s not easy to challenge the powerful in Nigeria. Tracy might be facing serious threat to her life that compelled her to apologize,” Okpe said.
He added: “Hardship is another possible reason. Don’t forget, she had already narrated how she was passing through a lot. So, the minister might have lured or convinced her with a promise to settle her with funds if she withdrew the case with apology.”
Dennis Ngulianga from Makurdi expressed a similar concern, saying the matter deserves further scrutiny.
“That woman’s sudden decision has to be critically investigated. There may be more to it than we think. She may be suffering in silence,” he said.
As of press time, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had not issued a fresh public response to the apology or to the concerns raised in the aftermath of the video.
