"I would say Gen. Buhari did not appoint me as a commissioner; President
Jonathan did. Before that, Gen. Obasanjo appointed me as a special
assistant and I was posted to FCT where I was secretary for health,
agriculture and social development at the same time. At the time
President Jonathan came, he was looking for people that had integrity.
That was what I was told, and I found myself in the commission and did
my best. For somebody to now say Gen. Buhari knew me and gave me the
job, obviously he knew I am a hard worker and he is a principled person.
I have never known him for nepotism. He is a very
principled person. If there are familial ties, the principle would have
rubbed off on that family. I come from a very principled family. My
father survived two regimes that were jailing and sacking people, and he
survived both. And for that, I don’t think I would do anything that
would jeopardise that principle. I can’t say the general is my in-law. I
am not married to his son and my daughter is not married to him. That
is what I understand about being an in-law. But obviously, in life, you
have acquaintances, people you have known. But I think people should not
get distracted by this ‘family or no family’. Am I competent? Can I
deliver? Can I conduct my affairs with integrity? The President’s
message is for people to be honest and to have integrity. This is a
statement he sent to me. ‘Don’t do anything against your principle.’
Already, I have that principle and I will maintain it"she said.
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