PRESIDENCY DENIES PLOT TO SACK WAZIRI
Presidency denies plot to sack Waziri
From Henry Chukwurah, Port Harcourt
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Waziri
The Presidency has denied reports that it is contemplating replacing the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri with a former military governor of Kaduna state, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd). A top official in the Acting President's office gave the clarification when asked about a newspaper report on plans by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to effect a change of leadership in the EFCC and INEC.
According to the presidential aide who does not want to be named since the initial report did not attribute the information to any specific person, 'I remember we spoke to the writer of that story when they called for confirmation that the acting president is not in any way contemplating removing the Chairman of EFCC, but as you can see, they still went ahead to run it even without our official denial of such plan. The acting president is not out for any agenda. Farida is trying her best and her efforts are being acknowledged. So there is nothing like that please. We understand that the nature of her job will generate such attacks on her. '
Investigations however revealed that the report must have been deliberately sponsored by a prominent leader from the South-south region who is angry with the EFCC chairman for not falling for pressures to lock up a former governor from the region. The prominent leader has been having a running battle with the former governor.
Another source in the presidency disclosed that: ' We don't want to join issues with faceless sources referred to in the report because there are several flaws there and I will point a few out to you now so that when we say such report has no root in the presidency you will believe what we are saying.
'The former governor of Kaduna state, Dangiwa Umar was referred to as a likely candidate being considered for Waziri's job. Umar was a former governor of Kaduna state and how do you bring somebody that should be eyeing the nation's presidency or at least a ministerial appointment for the job of a parastatal or an agency? Again, the EFCC Act says its chairman will hold office for a period of four years, which may be renewed for another term of four years.
'People should not promote this type of thing to give the impression that the acting president is out for an agenda. He is truly committed to a truly united one Nigeria please. Those with different agenda should not attach it to the office of the acting president.