Date Published: 09/20/09

Dear Editor,

Understanding Aondoakaa and Waziri quarell

Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General of the Federation/Justice Minister and Mrs. Farida Waziri, the Chairman of the EFCC are both from Oshongo Local Government in Benue State. One can understand one thing wrong with most politicians in Nigeria: Each wants to be the only one to be reckoned with in their respective locality as tin-god and therefore would not be comfortable with another rising up to compete. This is the case between Aondoakaa and Waziri.

It happened that during Obasanjo era and while trying to set up the EFCC Obasanjo considered from a list potential persons to head it and it included Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and others before settling for Nuhu but the former Attorney-General Kanu Agabi preferred Farida. Farida’s husband who was appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey had to leave for the service with her.

When Yar’Adua came in and brought in Aondoakaa as his Attorney-General; and shopping for Ribadu’s replacement, Aondoakaa recommended another lady, retired AIG Wushishi, also from Benue but a different LGA. Yar’Adua sought for alternatives and eventually fell for Farida.

It is easy to now see why Aondoakaa and Farida may not work amicably together. Nevertheless, both Aondoakaa and Waziri did not give accurate information in the matter concerning James, Tinubu, Attah, V-mobile shares and the ADFI. While Aondoakaa included Tinubu in a matter that did not connect him in the first place, Waziri was quick, without cross-checking, to add that none of the three ex-governors were cleared. EFCC had earlier investigated and cleared Attah on the same matter and why Attah’s name should also feature again in her Press Release, calls for questioning. Must she drag her disagreement with her brother to rubbish others?

Alhaji Musa Salem

Aguiyi Ironsi Street

ABUJA.