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Nigeria - Amina Zakari has revealed the real reason she was picked to be INEC chairman by president Muhammadu Buhari - and it's not because she has family ties with the president as widely speculated.
Speaking in an interview, she says she wasn't expecting the appointment and had proceeded on a three week leave before she got the news.
"I would say Gen. Buhari did not appoint me as a commissioner; President Jonathan did... at the time President Jonathan came, he was looking for people that had integrity. That was what I was told, and I found myself in the commission and did my best.
She says President Buhari's message is for people to be honest and to have integrity. "This is a statement he sent to me. ‘Don’t do anything against your principle.’ Already, I have that principle and I will maintain it.
"For somebody to now say Gen. Buhari knew me and gave me the job, obviously he knew I am a hard worker and he is a principled person. I have never known him for nepotism. He is a very principled person.
"If there are familial ties, the principle would have rubbed off on that family. I come from a very principled family. My father survived two regimes that were jailing and sacking people, and he survived both. And for that, I don’t think I would do anything that would jeopardise that principle. I can’t say the general is my in-law.
"I am not married to his son and my daughter is not married to him. That is what I understand about being an in-law. But obviously, in life, you have acquaintances, people you have known. But I think people should not get distracted by this ‘family or no family’. Am I competent? Can I deliver? Can I conduct my affairs with integrity?
The Nation
Speaking in an interview, she says she wasn't expecting the appointment and had proceeded on a three week leave before she got the news.
"I would say Gen. Buhari did not appoint me as a commissioner; President Jonathan did... at the time President Jonathan came, he was looking for people that had integrity. That was what I was told, and I found myself in the commission and did my best.
She says President Buhari's message is for people to be honest and to have integrity. "This is a statement he sent to me. ‘Don’t do anything against your principle.’ Already, I have that principle and I will maintain it.
"For somebody to now say Gen. Buhari knew me and gave me the job, obviously he knew I am a hard worker and he is a principled person. I have never known him for nepotism. He is a very principled person.
"If there are familial ties, the principle would have rubbed off on that family. I come from a very principled family. My father survived two regimes that were jailing and sacking people, and he survived both. And for that, I don’t think I would do anything that would jeopardise that principle. I can’t say the general is my in-law.
"I am not married to his son and my daughter is not married to him. That is what I understand about being an in-law. But obviously, in life, you have acquaintances, people you have known. But I think people should not get distracted by this ‘family or no family’. Am I competent? Can I deliver? Can I conduct my affairs with integrity?
The Nation
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