Between Dr. Junaid and INEC’s Amina Zakari

Ohioma Ali I wish to react to some false information being circulated on social media about a female public officer which caught my attention. The stories are about Amina Bala Zakari, a federal commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As a personal friend l know her well enough to state confidently here that […]

Ohioma Ali

I wish to react to some false information being circulated on social media about a female public officer which caught my attention. The stories are about Amina Bala Zakari, a federal commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As a personal friend l know her well enough to state confidently here that those tales are untrue. First is the speculation that the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Zakari from Kazaure in Jigawa State was given the appointment  because he is a brother to Amina Zakari’s late husband, Bala who was a manager with the United Bank for Africa (UBA). The fact is that Amina’s late husband has no surviving brother. In addition, the often repeated story by a highly respected Kano based politician Dr. Junaid Mohammed in several interviews that the INEC chief is President Buhari’s niece is misleading because they are not blood relations.     

 It is unfortunate that people take delight in spreading negative stories about public officers. I wonder what they intend to achieve by such actions.  As a woman l always feel pained whenever women in public offices are targeted for smear campaigns in the media. It is a similar challenge female politicians face. Most who venture to seek elective positions are blackmailed, visited with violence and frustrated out of the race. This accounts for the continued inadequate representation of women who form a bulk of the population, in government. With this negative trend, how do we achieve sustainable development?

 It is my belief that Amina Bala  Zakari  was reappointed by the Buhari administration because she performed well when she was  first appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and she served under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega. One other federal commissioner was also reappointed along with her.  I still recall how l watched her brilliant performance during the screening of those nominated for positions of INEC federal commissioners at the senate. l also watched how several others including ministerial nominees who did similar screening, failed to meet our expectations but to the amazement of many they all scaled through! Amina Bala Zakari certainly demonstrated at the occasion that she was at home with the operations of INEC. Unfortunately, many who believe that females from a particular part of the country do not deserve to be in crucial decision making positions overlooked this positive side. To some of us, the good outing convinced us that she was returned to her position based on merit.  It is sad to note that in the contemporary world where there is an increase in the number of females leading their countries decades will roll by in Nigeria before our society becomes gender sensitive. 

My friendship with Amina Bala Zakari commenced during our days at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and we have remained good friends till today because she is not only detribalized but humble and patriotic, despite her achievements. At a period when ethnic sentiments are determinants for recruitment, it is worthy to point out here that Amina’s three personal assistants in her INEC office are from the southern part of the country while she is from Jigawa State. It is an entirely different scenario in several offices occupied by people in authority.  The INEC chief really earned my admiration when she graduated from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences as the best  student in 1980.  With this impressive background in academics l am not surprised that she has gone this far in public life.  As a federal INEC commissioner, she has served for eight years without blemish, as such the least expected  of the society is to appreciate and encourage women in leadership positions who are doing well in order to motivate other females to aspire to the top.

Mrs. Ohioma Ali writes from Balanga Street, Garki, Abuja

Please, address security challenges

The federal government and all leaders in the country need to sit down and address the lingering security challenges in the country. I plead with all well-meaning Nigerians to tackle the persistent security problems across the country, especially as we approach next year’s general elections. Many of us have no other country than Nigeria, and even for those who have, it is known that in times of peace, Nigeria is a lovely country to live in. All these political games should be carefully handled to ensure that a peaceful and progressive Nigeria emerges in the end.

Victoria Adama, Lolokja, Kogi State

How is TSTv faring? 

With the coming of the new digital satellite pay television, TStv Africa, we thought it would cover the country and give DSTV a run for its money, especially as many Nigerians believe that DSTV has been over-billing customers and enjoying almost absolute monopoly of the market, but so far, we are not hearing, or seeing much from TSTV, indicating that it lacks  the required difference Nigerians expected from it, leaving  DSTV to continue its exploits, against the wish of subscribers.

Andy Mokogwu, Abakiliki

Travelling abroad for better life or shame

Despite the many deaths recorded from futile attempts to travel abroad by many Nigerians, I am surprised that many are still embarking on such trips. Many Nigerians have been maltreated or repatriated from Libya but many still try to illegally escape there in the name of looking for better life. My advice to such people is to try to find something legal doing at home instead of embarking on such dangerous journey of humiliation and death.

Ibrahim Kofar, Kano

After Russia 2018, what next?

After the World Cup in Russia, I think the next thing is for the country’s football authorities to quickly get on with preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations so that Nigeria can make a significant impact in the competition. We should not wait until its one month to the kick-off to start preparing, as our problem had always been lack of proper preparation. Let us try to improve, as we have not been in AFCON for some time now.

 Ahmed Abdullahi, Birnin Kebbi