Tag: Yari

Ex-Gov Yari accused of diverting N10.8bn for university project

The Zamfara State Government has accused the administration of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari of diverting N10.8 billion set aside for the state university project.

The State Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Rabiu Garba, made the accusation at a press conference in Gusau on Tuesday.

However, former Commissioner of Finance under Yari’s administration, Alhaji Mukhtar Idris, dismissed the allegation as politically motivated.

Garba said: “Based on the records available to us, the past administration in the state had diverted the sum of N10.8 billion from the N37 billion refunded to the state by the Federal Government for the construction of 14 federal roads.

“We learned that in May 2019, N10.8 billion was transferred to the University’s Projects Account by the past administration in the name of construction of State University.

“The amount was transferred in two tranches, that is N5 billion each, and subsequently N850 million was also transferred to same account on 9th May. 2019.

“But instead that the amount transferred to be used for the said project, the money was diverted to other issues that have nothing to do with the university project.”

Garba dismissed claims that the present administration led by Governor Bello Matawalle is not interested in the completion of the university located in Talata-Mafara.

According to him, those making the claim were not aware that part of the fund for the project was diverted by the past administration.

On whether the state government would continue with the project, Garba said only the State Executive Council can decide on that.

Reacting, Idris denied the allegation.

Idris said the past administration had initiated a Special Account for the State University Project.

He said that projects were executed at the site of the university with part of the money, while a balance was left in the project account.

He said: “Out of the money claimed by the current Commissioner of Finance, Rabiu Garba, about N4 billion was left in the account and they are part of the money inherited by the present administration.

“Let the present administration explain the multibillion naira capital projects executed in the university, Talata-Mafara before going to the media for un-clarified claims.”

Idris urged the Commissioner to always verify issues before going public.

September 23, 2020
Yari refutes flouting COVID-19 airport protocol, demands apology from FAAN

Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state, has denied the claim by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that he violated the COVID-19 protocol at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

In a tweet on Wednesday, FAAN accused Yari of assaulting its official and breaching COVID-19 protocol at the airport on Saturday.

But in a statement on Thursday, Mayowa Oluwabiyi, a media aide to Yari, said the governor did not assault any official at the airport and would never resort to violence of any sort.

While asking FAAN to retract the tweet and apologise, Oluwabiyi said the governor is a law-abiding citizen.

“The attention of H.E. Abdulaziz Yari, the former governor of Zamfara, has been drawn to a tweet posted on Wednesday, 15th July, 2020, on the official Twitter account of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that alleges that the ex-governor assaulted an airport official on Saturday, 11th July, 2020, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano,” he said.

“We wish to state categorically that H.E. Abdulaziz Yari did pass through the MAKIA on the said day but DID NOT assault any airport official. He also followed all the COVID-19 preventive protocols set by FAAN.

“The incident cited in the tweet simply never happened.

“H.E. Abdulaziz Yari finds the tweet odious and distasteful. He, therefore, demands that FAAN retract the offensive tweet and tender an immediate public apology to him for the falsehood published about his person.”

Oluwabiyi also said the former governor would take legal action against Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, over comments he made on FAAN’s tweet.

“H.E. Yari holds the Federal Government of Nigeria in very high esteem and supports all steps taken by the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 to fight the deadly pandemic,” he added.

“However, the vicious attack on the person and reputation of H.E. Abdulaziz Yari cannot be winked at. Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode will hear from H.E. Yari’s lawyers in due course in order to set the record straight.”

July 17, 2020
Time to move on, Yari tells supporters, urges safe attitudes as nation battles COVID-19

Dr. Abdul Aziz Yari has called on his supporters in Zamfara State and beyond to accept in good faith the recent decision of the Supreme Court concerning the 2019 governorship and legislative assembly elections in Zamfara State.

The former governor of Zanfara State according to the spokesperson, Mayowa Oluwabiyi said he felt dutybound to exhaust all the legal options in defence of the people’s mandate that was crudely taken away from them. He maintains that despite the interference by the courts, ‘real power remains in the hands of the people who will not hesitate to elect only their choice again at the next opportunity’… ‘What has happened is a setback but we must take all the lessons and move on’. This definitely is not a time to lament or complain but rather to look inward as we strive to move Zamfara State forward’.

Dr. Yari wants Governor Matawalle to face governance squarely at least for the sake of the vulnerable citizens.
Meanwhile, Yari has also called on all Nigerians to give their most cooperation to the government as we struggle to contain the dreaded COVID 19 also known as Corona virus now ravaging the world.

The former Zamfara State Governor urged Nigerians to observe the social distance measure and strict hygiene for the safety of all. Most importantly, Dr. Yari wants everyone to believe that this trial too will be over soon and that people should have faith in themselves and the government.

This is also time to take stock and reflect on how much we have been there for each other and what more we must do to make our society better.

April 2, 2020
Who will tame Yari?

By Ali Ali

Zamfara state has continued to be in the news of late for inexplicable reasons. Only recently, the state governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, repealed the state pension law that granted the former governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari and his co-travelers stupendous pension benefits that defeats human comprehension in a sane society. And of course this was applauded by well-meaning Nigerians.

This is aside from the supposed 10 million naira “upkeep” allowance that he deemed entitled to as a former governor of a state he practically ruined. This is the story of Zamfara state in a nutshell. But it didn’t end there, there is also the issue of armed banditry that left hundreds of women and children dead, and yet the then governor was busy gallivanting the globe.

I recall there was also another instance when there was an outbreak of meningitis in the state and other parts of the country, the best he could do was to say it was a punishment from God for fornication. Yes, this was what a governor had to say.

Under Yari, Zamfara State was a killing field where all manners of criminalities were perpetuated without abate. But little did we know that we had a governor who was promoting criminality to take the focus away from his looting of the state treasury. I dare say Zamfara state bleed while Abdulaziz Yari held sway as governor of the state.

It didn’t end just in Zamfara state; he also exhibited his bad behavior in his capacity at the Chairman of the Governors Forum with the way and manner they mismanaged the Paris Club refund. But as God would have it, his plan on fostering a stooge in Zamfara state to cover his tracks failed with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court that returned Bello Muhammad Mutawalle as governor.

I dare say this didn’t go down well with him, and as such, he made some scathing remarks about making the state ungovernable for the incoming governor. Interestingly, he stood to words by covertly sponsoring bandits’ activities in the state, all in a bid to cause unrest and discredit the incumbent governor. This much he has carried on like a wounded lion that he is in this circumstance.

This is on the heels that it is on record that, in his nefarious way, recruited over 10,000 youths to instigate an economic war in the state by engaging in acts inimical to the growth and development of the state. I stand to be corrected, the havoc Abdulaziz Yari had done in Zamfara state won’t go away soon. Imagine a situation where a state governor lavishly spent state funds on personal frivolities, while the state remains in turmoil. Imagine a situation where a state governor would be away from the state, and innocent women and children were killed daily by bandits. The governor would prefer to remain in Abuja rather than return to his state.

That was Abdulaziz Yari for you. I am sure in his wildest dream he didn’t think a day like this would come soon, in the sense that all his secrets would come to the open on how he mismanaged Zamfara state, and also how since he left office he has been sponsoring criminal elements to cause unrest in the state.

The interesting angle to the Abdulaziz Yari debacle is the fact that his nefarious activities do not stop in Zamfara state. From available statistics, he is nursing a grudge with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari due to his cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

In the face of all these maneuverings by Abdulaziz Yari, I get somewhat confused about his motives for Zamfara state or what he stands to benefits should Zamfara State go up in flames. In my opinion, that Zamfara state is enjoying relative peace and tranquility is too much for him to bear. This, in a way, explains the conspiracy theory that there was indeed more than meets the eyes with the level of insecurity witnessed by the state while he held sway as governor.

In some quarters, it has been speculated that upon resumption of office, Abdulaziz Yari had the agenda to loot the state blind to fund his extravagant and canal lifestyle and one of such way to take this from the eyes of the prying public, was to cause a distraction by fueling insecurity in the state. At this point, I fear for Zamfara state with the level of desperation exhibited by Abdulaziz Yari because more cans of worms would be opened as regards his stewardship of the state from 2011 to 2019. And with the way the incumbent governor is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to entrench transparency and accountability in the system, there is every reason for Abdulaziz Yari to throw all manner of spanners in the wheels of progress in Zamfara state.

This much he is currently engaged in with the sponsorship of criminal elements in the state in an attempt to make the state ungovernable, and to continue to buy time before all of his atrocities against the people of Zamfara state comes to the public domain. And this must not be treated with kids’ gloves by the relevant authorities.

The earlier Abdulaziz Yari is tamed, the better for Zamfara state. Should he be allowed to carry on with his evil plot against the state, I am afraid that casualties would be too costly for the people of Zamfara state. It consequently behooves on all well-meaning individuals to call him to order. He must be reminded that there is a new sheriff in town, and as such, there is a limit to which he can continue with the despicable act of sponsoring violence in the state.

Lest I forget, Abdulaziz Yari must also be made to face the full wrath of the law because an individual cannot be bigger than a state or a country. Definitely not in a democratic dispensation, and not with President Muhammadu Buhari as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ali is a security expert based in Zaria.

January 5, 2020
Ex-Gov Yari plotting to cause destabilization in Zamfara, says peace group

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria (PANN) has accused former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, of plotting to destabilize the state through sponsored banditry.

In a press conference in Abuja on Friday, PANN called on concerned patriots to be on the watch and for proactive actions to be taken.

According to National President, Chinedu Okoli, Mr Yari has been mobilizing bandits and other criminal elements to unleash terror in the state after Governor Bello Matawalle introduced some policies which wasn’t well taken.

Among such, the peace envoys revealed, was stoppage of the state’s pension law that would have seen the former governor and other political office holders go home with vast amounts of monies at the detriment of the development of the state.

The group further stated that the ex-governor recruited the services of some local government chairmen to actualize his inordinate ambition.

The Peace Advocates Network, therefore, resolved that Mr Yari should be held responsible if upsurge of crime and criminalities is recorded in Zamfara and other states in the northwest.

The group, however, advised the erstwhile governor to desist from this act that could potentially wreck havoc in the state else face the consequences.

Read full statement below:

The Peace Advance Network of Nigeria, a civil society organization in Nigeria at the vanguard of the entrenchment of peaceful coexistence and religious harmony wishes to bring to the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the unholy plot by the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari to cause mayhem in the state through the sponsorship of criminal activities.

We wish to state that we have it on competent authority that Abdulaziz Yari has been mobilizing bandits and other criminal elements to unleash terror in the state since the governor, Bello Matawalle introduced some far-reaching measures aimed towards putting the state on the path of progress.

We also wish to state that one of such measures was the repealing of the state’s pension law that would have seen the former governor and other political office holders go home with vast amounts of monies at the detriment of the development of the state.

This move, which has been applauded by all and sundry in Nigeria, did not go down well with former governor Abdulaziz Yari, and he indeed set up the machinery to make the state ungovernable for the incumbent governor for having the audacity to repeal the pension law in the state.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to state that former governor Abdulaziz Yari has also recruited the services of some local government chairmen to actualize his inordinate ambition by recruiting bandits and other criminal elements from various local government areas to begin a campaign of violence on the good and peace-loving people of Zamfara state all in an attempt to discredit Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle. We challenge Gov. Yari to deny this fact or tell Nigerians nothing but the whole truth.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to state emphatically that former governor Abdulaziz Yari does not have the interest of the state at heart, not minding the fact that this was a state he governed for eight years and with all the attendants benefits that he derived from office. The high scale insecurity that greeted the State during the last few months or his tenure has a firm root in his mismanagement of the state resources and inability to engage restless youths for any useful purpose.

Former governor Abdulaziz Yari had vowed to make the state ungovernable since his anointed candidate lost the last governorship elections to the incumbent governor. And this much he has attempted to do in times past but for the intervention of the security agencies in Zamfara state. This wicked, evil and malicious action of Yari has caused the state so much resources to curtail and in most instances death of countless innocent citizens.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to also bring to the attention of the world that should there be a resurgence of criminal activities in Zamfara state, former governor Abdulaziz Yari should be held responsible as impeccable report at our disposal indicates that he purchased over 1, 000 guns and ammunition for militia under the guise of state-sponsored vigilante services. Majority of these elements still bear arms, have refused to subscribe to ongoing efforts by the current administration for amnesty and have co continued to breach the peace of Zamfara State and her neighbouring towns.

Former governor Abdulaziz Yari is indeed a great disservice to the people of Zamfara state in particular and Nigeria in general through his actions while he held sway as governor for eight years and since his reign as governor ended through his various attempts at instigating one form of conflict or the other. His vow that Zamfara State will know no peace has become the people’s nightmare and doing everything possible to keep the state boiling with its attendant humanitarian crisis.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to state that it is also a known fact that the ex- governor, Abdulaziz Yari harbors disdain for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for standing on the side of truth and the great efforts towards ending the menace of armed banditry and other criminalities in Zamfara state that were instigated by former governor Abdulaziz Yari.

It is also instructive to state that since the coming into office of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the various efforts instituted to fight the menace of armed banditry indeed revealed the nefarious role of former governor Abdulaziz Yari in entrenching crime and criminality in Zamfara State.
We do not intend to hold brief for the State Government as our major concern is hinged on the need for peace to reign in the country.

The fact that his anointed candidate that was meant to cover his dirty tracks lost at the elections did open a Pandora’s Box of illegalities that were perpetuated by former governor Abdulaziz Yari in Zamfara State. Whilst the anti-corruption agencies are invited to do their job thoroughly, we as peace advocates will not fold our hands and watch any criminal element deliberately sabotage the peace and healing ongoing across the country and hence the need to cry to the world through this press conference.

This included the notoriety with which he enriched himself with state resources to the detriment of the people who elected him — sufficing to add the debacle of the Paris Club refund that indeed left a sour taste in the mouth of Nigerians who were shortchanged by ex- governor Abdulaziz Yari and his co-travelers.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to use this medium to inform the members of the general public that should there be an upsurge of crime and criminalities in Zamfara state and other parts of northwest Nigeria, ex- governor Abdulaziz Yari should be held responsible.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to advise Abdulaziz Yari to desist from his criminal tendencies in the interest of peace. He should have a rethink about sabotaging the state and his acts of economic terrorism. YARI should also stop taking Nigerians for granted as he is not bigger than the constituted authorities in the country.

The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria shall not hesitate to call for a demonstration march in protest of the nefarious activities of former governor Abdulaziz Yari. We will also drag him to the ICC for war crimes committed during his tenure and on the radar of the international police for him to answer questions.

We wish to say Enough is Enough and must be enough for Yari and his agents of darkness.
Thank you and God bless you for listening.

January 3, 2020
‘Governors plotting to oust Oshiomhole, crown Yari as APC chair’

Former lawmaker representing Zamfara East Senatorial District, Kabir Marafa has said some governors are plotting to replace Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with AbdulAziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state.

Marafa made the statement while speaking with journalists in Zamfara on Friday.

Marafa alleged that the governors are out to take control of the structures of the ruling party. He added that they are indirectly targetting President Muhammadu Buhari with the aim to make the president and his supporters politically irrelevant before the 2023 general election.

Marafa, however, refused to disclose the identities of the governors.

Marafa said: “The fight is not against Oshiomole, it is actually against the president himself. It is only that they don’t have the guts to say it now, but they will when the time is ripe.

“It is evident that the plot to unseat Comrade Adams Oshiomole by a gang of President Buhari’s adversaries has thickened. This plot is merely aimed at hijacking the party structures and handing it over to Yari – who till now is the arrowhead of all the people that harbour a lot of bitterness against the president.

“The Governors in concert with their cronies, within and outside the party, are doing everything possible to hijack the party structures to ensure that the president and his sympathisers are edged out of power equation in 2023.”

Marafa asked the president to be wary of Yari, citing instances in the past where he (Yari) “acted against Buhari”.

“Yari and his co-travelers’ stock in trade is treachery and backstabbing. The earlier the president and his men realizes it and act accordingly, the better for them and the party itself,” he said.

“Remember 2003 when the president and his party the ANPP lost the general election? While the president and his men were nursing the wound of losing the election, one of the ANPP Governors now a major pillar of Yari’s support and collaborator, was sighted on national television cutting PDP Victory cake in the Villa! That is how all of them are.

“All these machinations are geared toward hijacking the party or bouncing back to relevance and once that is done, the party’s future is doomed. President Buhari should buckle up to save the party from falling into the hands of his adversaries in his own best interest, the interest of the party, and that of the nation in general.

“The party is built on justice, equity and fairness and that will surely be eluded if the likes of Yari are allowed to succeed. Make no mistake sir, those asking for Oshiomhole’s head today, are actually looking for your jugular.”

Recall that the clash between Marafa and Yari made the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take control of Zamfara, which was a stronghold of the APC.

December 14, 2019
Respect status quo over Yari’s assets, court warns EFCC, AGF

The Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, restated its earlier order over plans by the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), to confiscate the assets and property belonging to the immediate-past Gov. Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nkeonye Maha had, in a ruling in an ex-parte application for interim injunctions brought by Yari’s Counsel, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, on Aug. 30, ordered the parties to respect the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit,

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Maha, who restated the order, adjourned the matter till Sept. 30 for further hearing.

NAN reports that Yari, through his lawyer, had urged the court to restrain the EFCC and AGF from interfering with his enjoyment of the rights enshrined in Sections 34, 35, 37, 41 and 43 of the Constitution.

Justice Maha had, on Aug. 26, summoned the AGF and the EFCC to appear before it over plans to seize the ex-governor’s property.

The judge, who gave the order after listening to the arguments canvassed by Magaji, adjourned the matter until Aug. 30.

Yari, in the motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/948/2019, said the application was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution and Order 4 Rule 3 and 4, of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

NAN reports that the AGF, who is also the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is the 1st respondent while the EFCC is the 2nd respondent in the suit.

The former governor had attributed his travails in the hands of the respondents to the fallout of the 2019 elections in the state.

He described the actions of the respondents against him as politically motivated to witch-hunt him.

Yari in a 17-paragraph affidavit in support of his motion, further stated that “the 1st and 2nd respondents are determined on a follow up attack upon him and his family by the use of allegations of wrongdoing which had been concocted against him in 2019 as an excuse to arrest him and his wife and to arraign them on trumped up charges.”

The affidavit, deposed to by Malam Affis Matanmi, traced the genesis of the case against Yari to the political events within the Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that eventually led to the party losing out the leadership of the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the judgment of the Supreme Court.

It read: “that after the decision of the Supreme Court, some aggrieved individuals who are very powerful decided to use agents of the 1st and 2nd respondents against the applicant.

“These individuals thus decided to carry out a vendetta and revenge against the applicant including instigating the respondents against the applicant upon their spurious conclusion without evidence that he was guilty of corrupt practices as former governor of Zamfara and was in breach of the Code of Conduct Act.

“This witch-hunt, is clearly politically motivated, baseless, and has been designed only to discredit and humiliate the applicant in a bid to decimate him politically.

“That the agents of the 2nd respondents invaded the applicant private residence without court order in Talata Marafa, off Sokoto road, Zamfara and nothing incriminating was ever found against the applicant despite the several investigations carried out by the respondents.”

Magaji further informed the court that his client’s residence in Talafa Marafa, off Sokoto road, Zamfara, was on Aug. 5 invaded by the EFCC for five hours without any court order, in its bid to effect his arrest.

He said that during the said invasion, the “agents forcefully did not allow the family members of the applicant who was away in Saudi Arabia for Haji, to go out and come in from the residence.

“The action of the EFCC has made it impossible for applicant to exercise his right or his freedom of movement without fear of being arrested and intimidated by commission,” he said.

The lawyer further stated that Yari had dully declared all his assets in accordance with the Code of Conduct for public officers prior to assuming office as a governor and that he had not committed any offence to warrant the threats of seizure of his assets and property most of which were acquired even before he became governor of the state.

According to him, in the motion exparte dated and filed Aug. 20, the former governor sought, among others: “an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from seizing, impounding, taking over, confiscating or otherwise forfeiting his assets and property wherever they may be located within Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from unlawfully interfering with his rights to sections 34, 35, 41 and 43 of the 1999 constitution until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the agents of the respondents from freezing his bank accounts in Nigeria and or confiscating his immovable property anywhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

Justice Maha had given the order that the respondents should come and show cause why they would not be restrained from, among other actions, freezing the bank accounts and or confiscating Yari’s immovable property anywhere in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the EFCC’s Counsel, Hussaina Gambo, told the judge that she was in the process of filing another affidavit in support of her argument.

On his part, Magaji said: “We will do the needful as soon as we are served.”

Justice Maha, therefore, granted the application made by the prosecution (EFCC) counsel and adjourned the matter till Sept. 30.

The judge said since the fiat the Chief Judge issued to the court to sit during vacation would be expiring on Sept. 13, the matter should be returned to the registry of the court for reassignment.

September 5, 2019
YARI BECOMES PATRON OF THE VIOLENCE-FREE NIGERIA INITIATIVE

The challenge of violence, being a concern of mainly a section of the country has gradually turned into a national nightmare that threatens everyone. Until recently, the dominant themes had been Militancy and the Boko Haram menace, but today, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and the herdsmen crisis have risen to an all-time high that commands international mention.
While various factors have been cited as being responsible the common consensus has remained that the crisis would have been less volatile but for the involvement of too many youth who have continued to serve as ready arsenals in the hands of terror merchants. Efforts therefore to rid our nation of violence have long moved from being a sole concern of government as many more institutions and individuals have unwittingly joined in the campaign.
In 2016, the Road to a violence-free Nigeria campaign was launched by the NGO Youth Culture and Human Dignity Initiative first at Ile Ife, then later at the peace icons event which attracted thousands of youth at the Eko Hotels in Lagos, where His imperial majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, and former Common Wealth Secretary General, Sir Emeka Anyaoku took centre stage to preach peace to the many youth in attendance.

The participation of this duo set the tone for the centrality of national and legendary figures in the Road to a violence-free Nigeria, and Cally Ikpe, the convener had therefore set his mind on Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari who was then the governor of Zamfara State

The many efforts to get his attention finally yielded as he first featured as guest on the programme, Talking Violence and thereafter accepted to become a patron of the initiative. Yari in his acceptance remark as patron noted that there is no engaging in something you are certain will come back to hurt you.

In his words:” This is the reality of violence and it makes no sense to apply it as a means to anything. I am bothered that many young people are lending themselves to this ugly phenomenon: …I am pleased therefore that the youth are being targeted with a programme that promotes the culture of nonviolence. I am Abdul’ Aziz Yari and I am indeed proud to be identified with the campaign for a violence-free Nigeria”.

The significance of Yari as patron stems from his direct experience with violence while he served as governor of Zamfara State and as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum. It is common knowledge that Zamfara State has suffered severely in the hands of bandits who have slaughtered well more than 1000 people over a period of six years just as they burn down houses and halt economic activities intermittently.

Yari is stunned at the sophistication of the weaponry deployed by these bandits who are mostly youth with unimaginable guts. He believes much more ingenious measures are required to tackle the menace as military solution alone has not worked out just yet. On his part he had laid a pragmatic foundation based on a carrot and stick approach with caution as the watch word, being that too many civilian lives are on the line. While he has not ruled out the culpability of desperate politicians exploiting any and every situation to their advantage, he has continued to believe reorientation of mind-sets will work incredibly to check the spate of killings across the country. It is fundamental to him too that youth find no attraction to violence as an alternative to earning a living, a trend he believes is best anchored on empowering women. This is perhaps why he was bent on initiating a special empowerment programme for women at the twilight of his administration. According to him he sees more transparency in women than in men and would therefore readily trust them more with resources than their male counterparts. The possibility therefore that youth empowerment will spread is better anchored on women.

As to his continuing role at helping check the spate of violence, Dr. Yari believes it is incumbent on every responsible citizen, regardless of whether he or she is in position of authority or not. ‘I have therefore continued to engage with various stakeholders in my private capacity as part of efforts towards ridding our society of this scourge. I am particularly supportive of this cause (the violence-free Nigeria initiative) as part of my commitment to the peace process… Seriously, this initiative (Road to a violence-free Nigeria) is deserving of all the encouragement… I enjoin everyone to speak out against violence… we must never get tired of condemning violence in its entirety’.

Interestingly, the Abuja home of Abdul Aziz Yari has not ceased to be busy despite leaving office; instead, his residence has consistently played host to many serving and past governors, traditional rulers, leadership of the national assembly (Senate and the House of Representatives); something Yari ascribe to his disposition as a fence mender, bridge builder and enabler of visions. It is a tendency he believes is in tandem with national cohesion, prosperity and unity of Nigeria. While the Abdul Aziz Yari persona and phenomenon looms, it remains to be seen what major placement the political atmosphere holds for this political giant.

July 31, 2019
Ex-Zamfara gov, Yari denies leaving N252bn debt for Matawalle

Former Zamfara State Governor Abdul Aziz Yari Abubakar has debunked allegations of leaving behind N252 billion debts to Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle.

Yari said he left over N7 billion for the take-off of the Matawalle’s administration.

The former governor, who spoke through his media aide, Malam Ibrahim Dosara, at the APC secretariat in Gusau, added that paid a debt of over N45 billion left behind by the administration before him.

Yari was reacting to the allegation by the Chairman of PDP Transition Committee, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, that he left behind over N252 billion.

The allegation, the former governor said, could not be swept under the carpet.

He stressed that the Zamfara people enjoyed dividends of democracy under him with the inauguration of projects by President Muhammad Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many more prominent dignitaries.

Yari stressed that the allegations were baseless and an effort to smear his image.

He said that it was astonishing to note that Wakkala who was his deputy and Chairman, Zamfara Stare Tender Board could not differentiate between ongoing projects, awarded projects and what should be addressed as liabilities and debts.

His media aide said: “No bank loan was left or obtained by the Ministry of Finance under Governor Abdul Aziz Yari and left behind as debt to the present administration.”

On education, he said: “There were debts inherited by Yari from the administration before him and his administration on inception met with the various examination bodies, which Wakkala claimed Yari’s administration owed. Yari negotiated with the bodies to pay the debt by instalments.”

The former governor explained that his government paid the examination and tuition fees of Zamfara State students.

June 26, 2019
Interim report alleges Ex-Gov. Yari misappropriates over N250 billion

A Transition Committee set up by Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has alleged that the immediate past governor of the state , Abdulaziz Yari, had misappropriated the sum of N251, 951,849,482.50.

This was revealed to journalists on Monday by the Chairman of the Transition Committee and immediate past Deputy governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala.

Wakkla said: “my committee while trying to ascertain the liabilities left behind by the immediate past administration of Hon. Abdulaziz Yari collected and went through the report submitted by a transition committee earlier set up by former Gov. Yari.

” We discovered from Yari’s committee that the sum of over N250 billion cannot be accounted for.

“This included liabilities from a total of 462 ongoing projects which stands at N151, 190,477,572.02 and unremitted National Housing Fund (NHF) and unpaid workers’ gratuity of N1, 431,645,305.99.

“Similarly, the state government is indebted to various examination bodies including NECO and WAEC and some higher institutions amounting to over N2. 8 billion,” he said.

He said that the outgone administration which released the sum of N2 billion for the payment of gratuity to retired workers only paid N400 million to retired Permanent Secretaries, while the remaining balance of N1. 6 billion had remained unaccounted.

Reacting to the allegations, the Special Adviser to the former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, described them as “baseless and do not hold water”.

Dosara who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Saudi Arabia, said, “please wait for my return very soon, I will come and give you the correct version of what is on ground.”

June 25, 2019