President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr. Ahmad Rufai Zakari, son of former Acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian electoral body as Special Adviser on Infrastructure.
Mr. Ahmad Zakari took to micro-blog, twitter to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for counting him worthy to be given such responsibility to serve. Mr. Ahmad in a tweet says: “I’m grateful to @MBuhari and @ProfOsinbajo for the opportunity to serve. This appointment isn’t just for me it’s for our generation below 40. I will do my utmost to be a good reference and strive to help drive accelerated infrastructure outcomes. #Nigeria we hail thee !”.
You would recall that On July 27, 2015, the Nigerian Tribune had claimed that President Buhari was related to Amina Zakari.
That claim was widely reported in the Nigerian media as a sign of nepotism by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The basis of the claim was an interview granted by a supporter and friend of former president Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai.
Alhaji Tanko in the alleged interview had stated that he knows Amina Zakari from her childhood.
“I know that woman from her childhood. Her father worked with me as my Permanent Secretary before later he became the Emir of Kazaure”.
Alhaji Tanko further stated that he maintained a cordial relationship with Amina’s father until his demise.
“However, the relationship between him (Amina Zakari’s father) and Buhari is something that I know of. Anybody around during that time also can confirm this. He (the late Emir) married the senior sister to Buhari and he (Buhari) started his childhood in the late emir’s house”.
The mother of this woman (Amina Zakari) was either the first or second wife. Aside from that, Buhari stayed with him for sometime in Kazaure. I know that the relationship is true.
Though, on September 8, 2015, in another interview on Channels TV and published by The Mail Express, Yakassai denied criticizing the appointment of Amina Zakari or about her relations with Buhari and that his actual words were manipulated by certain parties.
However, sources within Nigerian seat of power confirmed that there’s an age long relationship between the Buhari’s family and that of Amina Zakari.
President Muhammadu Buhari came under fire after he appointed Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting chairperson of the country’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Mr. Adebayo Adebutu, a public affairs analyst while reacting to the appointment of Ahmad Zakari as Special Adviser to the president on infrastructure said, the appointment further confirms the rumor that the INEC henchwoman, Amina Zakari is a relative of President Muhammadu Buhari.
