We’re pained by ‘blatant lies’ against Zakari, says family

THE family of Mrs. Amina Zakari yesterday said it was pained by what it described as “blatant lies” that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) National Commissioner is President Muhammadu Buhari’s niece.

A statement by the family, signed by Isah Zakari, a lawyer, said Mrs. Zakari, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Health and Welfare, is not Buhari’s blood relation.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had alleged she has blood relationship with the President, following her appointment as head of INEC’s Collation Centre.

The PDP added that she was appointed in a bid to rig the general election.

But, the family said Mrs. Zakari is a patriotic Nigerian, who has served her country faithfully and honestly for years without blemish.

The statement reads: “We are, therefore, pained by the report that portrays Amina Zakari working to sabotage INEC’s firm determination to advance the democratic journey by creating a conducive atmosphere for citizens to exercise their voting rights.”

Debunking the claim that she is related to the President by blood, the family said Mrs. Zakari’s mother was from Daura, but was born and bred in Kano and was not Buhari’s sister.

“It is true that Buhari’s sister was once married into the family. The union was short-lived and did not produce a child. This all happened well before Mrs. Zakari was born,” the statement said.

According to the family, a Kano politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who allegedly first made the claim that Mrs. Zakari was born by Buhari’s sister, had since recanted.

The Zakari family said it was laughable that Mrs. Zakari, appointed as National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan, can no longer perform any function in INEC because she is a supposed relation of the President.

The statement added: “The pieces of information being sold to the press about Mrs. Amina Zakari by the PDP are absolutely false, tendentious, malicious and highly reprehensible.

“Mrs. Zakari has challenged anyone with evidence against her of any misdeed to come forth and prove their case.”

Besides, the family said Mrs. Zakari diligently served under three different Presidents in various capacities, adding that it was rather unfortunate that she has been made a victim of “a vicious campaign to reduce her accomplishments to purported blood relationship while ignoring her vast and accomplished resume.”

Highlighting the National Commissioner’s credentials, the statement said: “Mrs. Zakari attended the acclaimed Queens College on merit, being first from Kano State in the Common Entrance in her graduating year from primary school.

“Mrs. Zakari also was one of the top students in her graduating Pharmacy B.Sc. class in Ahmadu Bello University.

“She spent time raising a family giving birth to five children while her late husband took roles of increasing capacity in UBA and Union Bank.

“She worked as a consultant for the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund, but it is an absolute falsehood that she was appointed to that role by President Buhari.

“She started as a sub consultant of Afri Projects Consortium and was eventually promoted to the health portfolio for the Consortium after the departure of the late Dr. Aminu Safana (whom she worked for) when he joined partisan politics in 1999.

“She also served as Executive Secretary for Health in the FCT Administration under the Obasanjo administration’s second term.”

According to the family, President Buhari did not attend the Council of State meeting, where President Jonathan presented her nomination.

“What is unfortunate is, instead of celebrating an accomplished woman to support diversity in our polity and groom our future female leaders; we are stuck on belittling Mrs. Zakari’s accomplishments to mere familial ties.

“If we begin to harangue and harass our officials for family ties (which they do not control) over competence, we shall have no one to serve.

“A cursory review of INEC and other institutions will reveal a wealth of family and professional ties and contradictions. Does that mean everyone should resign?

“Enough is enough. Leave our mother, daughter, sister alone to serve the nation as she has done so diligently over her life and career,” the family added.