By Abdullahi Yusuf
Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, the Executive Director, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), has rejected his suspension from the Kano Civil Society Forum(KCSF) by the forum’s Board of Trustees.
In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Bashir A. Bashir, in Kano on Friday, Waiya said the board has no powers to suspend him from the group.
“The attention of Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, the Executive Director, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), has been drawn to a widely media report, especially on social media platforms, that the BOT under the leadership of Prof. Mohammad Tabiu, has suspended Amb. Ibrahim Waiya from the membership of Kano Civil Society Forum.
“The misguided information in the press release, published on some media platforms, was said to have been signed by one Alhaji Hamisu Isa Sherifai, who paraded himself as the Secretary of the KCSF Board.
“The Kano Civil Society Forum(KCSF) Board of Trustees has no power to suspend or dismiss any bonafide member of the KCSF.
“They need a competent lawyer to interpret their powers and boundaries as we shall not be intimidated by any calculated conspiracy to instill fear in us. We are determined on securing justice for the excluded and marginalized members, “he said.
Wayya said it was unfortunate that the board had yet to read and comprehend the KCSF constitution to know its powers, limitations and privileges, arguing that the board had no powers to outrightly suspend any registered member, except on the recommendation of the Executive Council after a thorough investigation of an offence committed by a member.
According to him, there is nowhere in the world where a registered Civil Society Board of Trustees (BOT) will assume the role of the day-to-day running of the affairs of an organization.
“The person of Amb. Ibrahim Waiya is law abiding and peaceful, as he fights for justice and treats issues with utmost decorum and fairness. Therefore we wish to let the world know that, the purported letter of suspension of Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, holds no water, as the evilly conceived action shall be challenged in the court of law.
“We must also note that Kano’s development, the North and Nigeria are the primary priorities of Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, and not his reputation,” the statement added.