Buhari’s Special Adviser joins Jigawa governorship race

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Infrastructure, Ahmed Zakari, has obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress to vie for the APC governorship ticket in Jigawa State in 2023.

Zakari, whose mother, Amina Zakari, once headed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in acting capacity, is the youngest member of President Buhari’s cabinet.

Zakari, a trained engineer and former Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of General Electric in Nigeria, joined Buhari’s government in 2019.

He informed APC leaders in Jigawa State via a letter that he would vie for the governorship position after exhaustive consultation to build on the success of Governor Badaru Abubakar.

The governorship hopeful stated: “After due consideration and consultation, I will be joining the aspirants that are vying to run for the Office of Governor of Jigawa State in the upcoming primary elections of our great party.

“With my requisite experience in Engineering, Economics, Finance, and Administration gathered from years working and studying across the globe and in Nigeria, I believe (if given the opportunity) I can build on the great legacy of His Excellency Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

“I have always been an early starter. I became the youngest African Executive in the history of General Electric’s renowned CAS program at the age of 28. I started repositioning and managing multibillion-dollar businesses in GE at the age of 29. I was turbaned as the Santuraki of Kazaure prior to the age of 30. I am also today, the youngest person in the Buhari Administration to occupy a cabinet level position as Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure. I started this role at the age of 36.

“In my time as the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure (since 2019) I have worked on many significant national assignments under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and I must thank them immensely for providing me the opportunity to serve and the platform to excel,” the letter read.

Zakari, through his mother’s lineage, is related to President Buhari.

The Star