National
EFCC Job: Name One Oil Merchant I Protected – Jonathan Dares Farida Waziri
Insists Waziri Was Fired In National Interest
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has rebuffed claims by Mrs. Farida Waziri that she was fired from her position as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by him for her alleged audacity in probing some oil merchants as he dared her to mention specific instances in which he interfered with her job.
In a statement on Monday, President Jonathan said Mrs. Waziri was fired upon pressures from local and international stakeholders who brought forth evidence of her indiscretions and not for any personal reasons.
While affirming that he
was obliged in the national interest not to open up on the particular reasons
she was fired, Jonathan in a statement issued by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze
said:
“We had expected that a book from Mrs. Farida, coming
years after the claim was first made, should have towed the path of honour by
telling the truth for the benefit of history. Unfortunately, that still didn’t
happen.
“It will be recalled that after assuming office as President on May 6, 2010, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan decided to retain Mrs. Waziri, who was appointed by his predecessor, late President Umaru Yar’Adua, as the head of the elite anti-crime agency. Despite obvious disenchantment from many Nigerians and mounting international pressure against Mrs. Waziri’s continued stay in office, the former President stood by her, in line with his conviction that every public officer should first be given the opportunity to deliver on his or her mandate.
“It must be pointed out that former President Jonathan had no personal issues with Mrs. Waziri. The former President had to eventually let her go in the national interest. Her removal therefore has a lot to do with reasons relating to Nigeria’s interest and global standing which details Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is obliged to keep as state secret in our common national interest. It is very important to note that when dealing with the interest of the nation and the performance of the functions of a public office, a determined leader cannot prioritise the interest of an individual.”
“It therefore bears repeating here that Mrs Waziri’s removal as chairperson of EFCC had absolutely nothing to do with her purported refusal to desist from probing any oil individual. This claim sounds rather superficial and contradicts available evidence of the then government’s genuine efforts to combat oil subsidy racketeering.”
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