By Balogun Omeiza David (BOD)
Our elders in Ebiraland came up with a proverb to remind us that, “The sun and the moon may hide behind the clouds, but they never cease to exist.” So it is with truth. It may be delayed, but it cannot be permanently buried.
There appears to be a thin line between the biblical David, the son of Jesse, and the contemporary Nigerian political figure, David Umahi. The comparison is not one of guilt, but one of circumstance, perception, leadership, and the heavy burden that accompanies public office.
The first David was a shepherd boy who rose from obscurity to become one of Israel’s greatest kings. He was courageous enough to confront Goliath when seasoned soldiers trembled. He was a gifted musician, an exceptional warrior, and a leader whom God Himself described as a man after His own heart. Yet, greatness does not grant immunity from human weakness.
Second Samuel Chapter 11 recounts a tragic turning point in David’s life. It was the season when kings ordinarily led their armies to battle to expand their territories. Rather than going to war, King David remained behind in Jerusalem while Joab commanded Israel’s army. That single decision altered history.
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An idle evening walk upon the palace rooftop exposed David to Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. He desired her, summoned her into the palace, and committed adultery with her while her husband faithfully fought at the battlefield.
When Bathsheba became pregnant, David attempted to conceal his actions. His efforts eventually culminated in arranging Uriah’s death by instructing Joab to place him where the fighting was fiercest before withdrawing support. David believed the matter had been successfully hidden.
But there is a proverb by our elders in Ebiraland that says, “The earth may conceal a seed, but when the appointed season comes, it must sprout.” The only witnesses to the conspiracy appeared to be David, Joab and perhaps a few trusted soldiers. Yet there was another Witness neither David nor Joab could silence. God: the Omnipotent,the All-Seeing and the All Knowing.
God sent Prophet Nathan to confront David with the truth he believed had been permanently buried. The king who had hidden from men could not hide from Heaven. His secret became Scripture for generations yet unborn.
Centuries later which snowballs into today, preachers still remember David’s greatness, but they also remember his saga with Uriah and Bathsheba. Such is the enduring consequence of actions attached to public office.
This brings me to David Umahi. Permit me to state from the outset that I have always admired Senator David Umahi. Whether because we bear the same first name or because I appreciate his remarkable political journey and infrastructural accomplishments, I have always had a soft spot for him. His achievements as Governor of Ebonyi State and now as Nigeria’s Minister of Works have earned him commendation from many quarters.
However, leadership carries not only honour but also enormous responsibility. The reported death of a physiotherapist, Mary Habillah, at a residence associated with the Minister has generated widespread public discussion. Predictably, opinions have become sharply divided. Some have rushed to defend him. Others have hastily concluded that he must bear responsibility.
I belong to neither camp. I am humbly sitting on the fence in this matter. If the pH scale describes neutrality as seven, then I choose to remain at seven until credible investigations establish the facts.
There are indeed striking similarities in the narratives. Bathsheba entered King David’s palace after the king invited her. Mary Habillah reportedly entered David Umahi’s residence in connection with her professional assignment as a physiotherapist. In the biblical account, Bathsheba returned home while Uriah eventually lost his life. In the present matter, Mary Habillah tragically lost her life, although the circumstances surrounding her death remain the subject of investigation and public discussion. Here the similarities end.
Scripture expressly records David Jesse’s guilt.
Regarding David Umahi, no competent authority has publicly established criminal responsibility. Until lawful investigations conclude otherwise, fairness demands that allegations not be mistaken for proven facts.
The law may investigate, but justice requires evidence.
Still, one aspect of the matter deserves reflection. According to media reports available to the public, questions have been raised about why official communication concerning the incident did not emerge immediately, allowing others to shape the public narrative first. I am of the opinion that David Umahi should not have allowed Sahara Reporters to be the first to break the news after some days that the ugly incident happened. In crises involving public officials, silence often creates room for suspicion. Communication delayed is frequently interpreted as communication denied. This is one angle of the story that the public is holding tenaciously unto.
Public Relations teaches that perception can become almost as powerful as reality. An old English saying reminds us that, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Where official information is absent, speculation rushes in. Rumour grows wings where truth is denied a voice. This is why transparency remains one of the strongest pillars of public trust.
I am therefore encouraged by reports indicating that David Umahi has expressed support for an independent autopsy and a thorough investigation. If indeed every necessary inquiry is conducted professionally and transparently, then both justice and public confidence will be better served.
Yet many Nigerians remain sceptical. Some wonder whether the complete truth will ever emerge. Such concerns, whether justified or not, reflect the importance of ensuring that investigations into matters involving powerful individuals are beyond reproach as only a transparent process can silence persistent doubt.
Nevertheless, we must guard ourselves against becoming judges before evidence is complete.
People die in countless circumstances every day. Some lose their lives while travelling to weddings, naming ceremonies, birthday celebrations or funerals. Others collapse in churches, mosques, offices, hospitals, gyms or while driving. Death respects neither status nor location. It can haul down anyone at anytime and any place.
This observation of mine humbly presented to you does not deny that wickedness exists. Human beings are capable of terrible evil. History proves this repeatedly. But wisdom teaches us not to convict before truth has spoken. That is why an African proverb wisely says, “Until the lion tells his own story, the hunter will always appear to be the hero.”
Likewise, another from our elders in Ebiraland says, “He who rushes to judgment often stumbles over the truth.”
In times like this, I suggest that one prayer should unite all of us. May our names never be mentioned in connection with another person’s death. The raw truth is even if innocence is eventually established, public suspicion often leaves scars that time struggles to erase. Reputation, once bruised, heals slowly and it may take eternity to heal.
King David discovered this painful reality at a later time. Though forgiven by God after genuine repentance, the account of Uriah and Bathsheba has remained permanently attached to his legacy. Every generation remembers both his greatness and his grievous act of wickedness.
I sincerely sympathise with David Umahi during this difficult period. If investigations ultimately establish that he bears no responsibility whatsoever for Mary Habillah’s death, then truth deserves to clear his name completely. If, however, any wrongdoing by any individual is established through lawful investigation, justice should follow without fear or favour.
Above every courtroom here on earth to judge cases stands the Supreme Court of Heaven. God cannot be deceived. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth. Nothing escapes His notice. Before history was written, He already knew how many days Mary Habillah would spend on earth. He knew every place she would visit, every person she would encounter and the exact moment she would return to eternity.
God remains God.
When human investigations reach their limits, divine knowledge never does. As debates continue across Nigeria, one truth remains certain: Mary Habillah has departed this earthly realm. Whatever arguments occupy our lips today cannot alter her eternal destination. What remains for the living is to seek truth, pursue justice, avoid premature conclusions, and leave ultimate judgment to the One who sees what no human eye can see.
May God comfort her loved ones. May He grant wisdom to investigators. May He preserve every one of us from circumstances that stain innocent names or expose guilty hearts. For at the end of the day, the court of public opinion may be loud and applauded, but the judgment of God is final.
May the gentle soul of Mary Habillah rest in perfect peace.
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