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Tag: Waziri

  • PDP chieftain Waziri joins ADC, decries party’s loss of credibility

    PDP chieftain Waziri joins ADC, decries party’s loss of credibility

    A Board of Trustees (BoT) member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Waziri, has resigned from the party and joined African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Waziri, a founding member of PDP, announced his exit from the party on Monday at the Dogo Tebo Ward Centre in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe, citing national interest and the need to restore democratic values.

    He said that the decision was in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution which stipulates that membership withdrawal must be formalised at the ward level.

    Waziri said that his decision to quit PDP was informed by “exigencies of the moment” and the urgent need to reinvigorate Nigeria’s democratic institutions through a new political movement.

    “I was a member of PDP, and due to the exigencies of the moment and in the interest of the nation, I have decided to resign.

    Read Also: APC group insists Usman Alhaji remains Waziri of Gaya despite title withdrawal

    “The PDP constitution demands that I come to my ward centre to formalise this action,” he said.

    Waziri, who described the decision as ‘difficult but necessary’, stressed that the current PDP leadership and the party’s tone no longer aligned with the vision of a credible opposition party.

    He appealed to his political associates, whom he referred to as “my boys,” to join him in the movement to recreate a vibrant democracy and deliver good governance for the Nigerian people.

    In his response, the PDP Ward Chairman, represented by Malam Muhammad Bomai, accepted Waziri’s resignation ‘with deep regret’, describing him as a national figure and pillar of the party whose exit would leave a significant void.

    “On behalf of the party, we accept his resignation with a heavy heart. Waziri has been an institution within the PDP, and we will feel his absence deeply,” he said.

    Bomai, who handed over Waziri’s returned membership card, also announced his own resignation from PDP and immediate defection to ADC.

    He reiterated his alignment with Waziri’s vision for Nigeria’s political future.

    (NAN)

  • Ganduje: Court fixes December 6 for judgment

    A Kano High Court has fixed Thursday, December 6 to rule on whether the state House of Assembly has the power to investigate the bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The National Coordinator of “Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria’’, an NGO, Mr Mohammed Zubair had filed a suit challenging the court’s constitutional right to investigate the bribery allegation.

    When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the Kano state House of Assembly, Mohammed Waziri argued that the Assembly had the power to investigate any person including the governor for the purpose of making laws and checking corruption.

    Read Also:Court remands fake army Colonel

    He said even though the governor had immunity but it is not against the investigation to be conducted by the House.

    Waziri, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the application filed by the counsel to the plaintiff due to the fact that it was trying to usurp powers given to the House by the constitution.

    However, in his argument, counsel to the plaintiff, Nuraini Jimoh said the House had the power to investigate the governor in view of the fact that it would conduct the investigation in order to expose corruption specifically mentioned by the constitution.

    “What the House is investigating is no doubt a crime against the governor. But by doing so, they are exercising their powers to expose corruption,’’ he said.

    In his submission, the third defendant, who is also the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Muktar maintained that the House had no power to conduct criminal investigation against the governor.

    According to him, the state Assembly has no trained experts or investigators to conduct the investigation, and as such assignment should be referred to the police or any relevant agencies.

    “The House has no capacity to conduct criminal investigation and it will be to the detriment of the person being investigated because they lack the capacity to conduct the investigation,” he said.

    In his ruling after listening to the argument of both parties, the presiding Judge, Justice, A. T. Badamasi fixed Thursday, December 6 for judgment on whether the state Assembly had the power to carry out the investigation or not.

    NAN

  • Ex-EFCC boss Waziri cautions politicians against hate speech

    A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has urged politicians to run issue-based campaign instead of dwelling on the nation’s fault lines.

    She also urged political leaders seeking elective positions to prevail on their supporters to eschew violence.

    Mrs Waziri spoke against the backdrop of the commencement of electioneering campaign next Sunday, in line with the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) guideline.

    The former EFCC chairperson said the country needed peace and unity to have successful 2019 elections.

    “For me, I believe the elections will hold as scheduled. My only concern is the level of toxicity in the statements of some political leaders.

    “This is not really good for the polity especially now that election campaigns will formally begin in a matter of days from now. So, this is the time for every patriotic political leader most especially those aspiring for offices and who will be going round to mobilise the people, to avoid hate speech that is capable of inciting their followers and supporters into violence.

    “We cannot afford to set the country on fire with our words because if the nation is set ablaze and the people are killed, there is no other Nigeria in Europe, America or Asia to call our country and there will be no citizens to lead and govern. I think the people will be more interested in their plans, programmes and agenda for them than toxic words that breed violence,” she said.

  • Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Waziri says intelligence gathering vital

    Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Waziri says intelligence gathering vital

    •Leads NGO to donate relief materials to Benue IDPs camps

    A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, wants the security agencies to utilise a mix of technology and human efforts in tackling the security challenges facing the country.

    Waziri spoke in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when she led a delegation of Women Youths Children and Crime Organisation (WYCCO), a non-governmental organisation, to donate relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

    “Bringing relief materials to support and assist the victims of violent attacks can only be a temporary measure,” she said.

    “A long lasting solution is for the various security agencies to rise to the challenge of their constitutional responsibility of securing lives and property of citizens; farmers and herdsmen alike, wherever they find themselves in any part of the country, through preventive measures.”

    The security agencies,according to her,should “look in the direction of employing scientific and technological means of intelligence gathering rather than relying wholly on human intelligence. “In this age and time, technology will reveal large movement of people towards any particular direction, provide clues to their motives and give headway on how to nip any crime in the bud. “This way, atrocities like the recent killings, not only in Benue but in other parts of the country can be prevented. In essence, we should invest in technology and use same to fight crime.”

    Mrs.Waziri said the donation was to identify with the people of Benue, “especially families of the victims and the displaced by bringing succour through essential relief materials to the various IDPs camps in the state as a complement to what governments at different levels and other concerned persons and groups have been doing.”

    She urged the victims, their friends and relations to take solace in God and shelve any thought of reprisal. “Let me also appeal to our people to embrace all peace initiatives and shun any idea of reprisal because reprisal begets reprisal. It is a vicious circle that blows no one any good”, she stressed.

    She expressed appreciation to the Oba of Lagos and former Inspector General of Police, Musiliu Smith, who is the patron of WYCCO for their support towards the initiative.

     

  • Tor Tiv mourns Waziri

    The Tiv Paramount ruler, Prof. James Ayatse, has commiserated with former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, over the death of her husband, Sen. Ajuji Waziri.

    His condolence message was signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Freddie Adamgbe, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The paramount ruler stated that the deceased had contributed to the progress, growth and development of the country, stressing that posterity would always remember him.

    He said that Waziri served the country meritoriously in various capacities.

    He prayed God to grant the family of the deceased, the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Waziri makes shock return to Wikki

    Waziri makes shock return to Wikki

    Wikki Tourists left full back, Christopher Waziri has made a sensational return to the club.

    Waziri was expected to join Enugu Rangers having trained with the Flying Antelopes for some weeks, but had a change of mind and opted to return to his former club.

    He  joined the team in Enugu on Friday for the ongoing Super 4 encounter.

    SportingLife gathered from a source that Waziri’s sudden change of mind may not be unconnected with the fact that it would be difficult for him to get a first team chance at Rangers  because the player  playing his position is very good.

    “Waziri is back in the team. His position is very competitive at Rangers and if he wants to make first team he has to be extra good. The player playing  his position is also a citizen of Enugu, except he wants to be a second class citizen. I think he made a good decision to come back to a team where he can get first team jersey. He is welcome and everybody loves him,” a source told SportingLife.

    Apart from Waziri, the club’s first choice goalkeeper Emaka Nwabulu has also returned to the club after his initial intention to leave the club.

    The Bauchi fans would be glad to have him back with the team, having played a pivotal role in the team’s success last season.

  • Corruption war monumental, says ex-EFCC chief Waziri

    Corruption war monumental, says ex-EFCC chief Waziri

    Ex-Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) Chairman Farida Waziri yesterday said the fight against corruption is a monumental war.

    Mrs. Waziri told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the sidelines of a commendation service for the late Inspector-General of Police, Chief Sunday Adewusi, that the anti-corruption fight “is going on well”.

    She said: “Corruption has eaten deep into every fabric of the society so it is something we must fight.”

    Mrs Waziri urged Nigerians to support the administration in its corruption war.

    Said she: “It is not just for President Muhammadu Buhari alone. It is for everybody. If you know the dangers of corruption, you will know that Nigerians should come together and say enough is enough.

    “Because the rich man is a victim, the poor man is a victim, the old man is  a victim and the child, the young man and the students are victims.

    “Those who are looking for jobs are victims so it is time that we support this President to say enough is enough.”

    She disagreed with those accusing EFCC of selectivity in its anti-corruption crusade. Mrs. Waziri said: “I disagree. This is not a issue of federal character.  Are you looking for a job that you will say unless certain areas commit; then you wait for another zone to commit?

    “The thing is that it will be tested in the court. If you have no evidence, then you cannot arrest and arraign somebody in the court. So those saying that it is selective, they are enemies of Nigeria. That is my belief because if I pick you, I will build a case file that can stand the test of time. I will file charges in the court, I will bring witnesses to prove my case beyond any reasonable doubt.”

    She added that the EFCC boss “is doing his best and he should follow due process and the rule of law. If you work within rules and regulation, you will not have problems.”

    On the late Adewusi, she said “he was an icon and a great man. He was a builder and he believed especially that the image maker of the force are the inspectorate and the rank and file. He made them so proud. He gives you an assignment and he gives you everything you need to execute that assignment because he wants positive results and not stories.

    “He was a great man. A lot of things the police copied was from what he did.”

  • Time to kill this monster is now- waziri

    Time to kill this monster is now- waziri

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, said yesterday in Lagos that Nigerians must not miss the current opportunity provided by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to kill the monster of corruption.

    Responding to questions at an event in Victoria Island on the import of this year’s anti-corruption day, Mrs Waziri said: “the right atmosphere and body language, so to say, so far provided by the administration of President Buhari on the issue of anti-corruption have made this year’s anti-corruption day unique. I really mean that this is a great opportunity for all Nigerians to put their ethnic, religious and political differences aside and join hands with the federal government to end this menace or at least bring it to the barest minimum level in our body polity.”

    The former anti-graft agency’s boss said on-going efforts to tackle the menace must be seen by all as a national duty that must be done “in the interest of the nation and posterity, so that our unborn generation can have a nation called Nigeria to call their own country.”

    She specifically appealed to the judiciary not to see the war as that of the executive arm of the government alone, but one that all arms of government must support and see to its success.

    “No matter what is done by the prosecution, if a corruption case does not end in conviction, it’s like an effort in futility and the deterrence effect would have been lost,” she said.

    She also called for the amendment of the nation’s laws “to put the burden of proof on suspects in money laundering and corruption cases. If someone claims ownership of a mansion, he or she should be able to provide evidence of how he got the money to acquire such and not for the prosecution to start proving and not just proving but proving beyond reasonable doubt. That way, primitive accumulation of wealth will be discouraged and on the long run, corruption would be minimized if not totally eradicated.”

  • Diversification will boost socio-economic development – Waziri

    Diversification will boost socio-economic development – Waziri

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has called for drastic diversification of the economy through policies that will boost agricultural productivity and industrial output for the nation’s socio-economic development.

    Commissioning the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence Project, Centre for Food Technology and Research  (CEFTER), located at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Mrs. Waziri said  the time has come to diversify the economy from being oil-driven to other sectors especially agriculture.

    The former EFCC boss, who was the chairperson at the official launch of the Centre, noted that the World Bank project is coming to Nigeria at the right time.

    CEFTER promotes teaching, research and extension in post harvest services.

    Fielding questions from journalists after the programme, Waziri said long years of over-dependence on oil revenue were one of the driving forces of public and private sector corruption.

    According to her: “No doubt, our over-dependence on oil revenue has brought us to the point where we are as a nation today.

    “As an anti-corruption czar, I have seen how some of those the nation entrusted with its oil resources in the past helped themselves more than the country,” she said.

    “With our focus on agriculture, the struggle by political office holders to steal oil fund would diminish while the national wealth will be in the hands of the people instead of a privileged greedy few.

    She added: “We cannot all dig oil wells in our backyard but we can all farm in our backyards. It is time to end oil-money induced corruption in our land by buying into President Buhari’s vision and take ownership.

    “I have made my contributions in the fight to discourage that and even recovered some of the looted funds in billions of dollars.

    “For daring to do that, I came under fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats but by God’s grace and long years of experience, I survived all. I am glad today that indeed, there is a new sheriff in town.”

     

  • Buhari is a man of destiny, says Waziri

    Buhari is a man of destiny, says Waziri

    •Ex-EFCC boss urges support for President

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of destiny who deserves to be supported by all Nigerians.

    Waziri, now into private law practice, spoke yesterday at Uga-Mbagwa, Ushongo local government area of Benue State, while fielding questions from journalists after the commissioning of her community’s worship centre.

    “I believe in President Buhari because he is believable and he has remained constant like the morning star since I know him.

    “Beyond that, I’m sure that he is a man of destiny, a resolute, sincere and committed leader who says what he means and does what he preaches,” she said.

    Waziri added: “In the history of Nigeria, he is today the only leader who has contested the presidential election for four consecutive times and made history by defeating a sitting president.

    “Remember he almost paid the ultimate price when his convoy was targeted in Kaduna before the election. Some other persons would have chickened out and even fled the country but he remained resolute and committed to the course he believed in.

    “That I can tell you is the kind of gut the nation needs at this critical time especially to fight corruption, which is one of our greatest challenges today.”

    When asked why she was not visible during and after the recent general elections, Waziri said she had been out of the country attending to some pressing issues.

    She said the time has come for Nigerians to come together and salvage the country irrespective of their differences.