The new Chairman Governing Board of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) AbdulLateef AbdulHakeem has said he is not excited about his new office until he had a successful tenure.

AbdulHakeem, who is the former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, in his acceptance speech after being inaugurated by President Mohammadu Buhari today (Friday) said he will not celebrate the appointment because he saw it as a ‘trial’ from God and not a success yet.

He said: “My appointment and confirmation as NDIC Chairman is a trial from my Lord and not a success yet. Kindly reserve the congratulatory messages until the day I succeed in leaving this organisation better than I met it.

“Stop putting pressures on me with requests. I will not honour your requests. I am going to be very different. I am ready to lose friends and relationships. I will not award any contract throughout my tenure because that is not a part of my responsibilities. 

“I will not interfere in the functions of the management. I am not excited about my new office and I am ready to quit if I am asked to leave tomorrow. 

“You have no idea what my role entails. I will not take any step to  betray my education, experience and exposure. No threat or pressure can recruit me into the stinking system we complain of.

” I am just a leader whose primary assignment is to lead the Governing Board of NDIC in good corporate governance and best practices in accordance with established rules and regulations. I will not do otherwise, he said.

AbdulHakeem promised to be a model for zero tolerance for corruption and  lawlessness.

He said: “My job as an Islamic preacher is far better than this trial and for your information, I have not left serving my Lord.

“To all those concerned, please stay on your lane. Do not bring anything before me except what is right.

“I need around me only those who understand that they will enter their graves with nothing and are truly determined to bring about the needed change in this country,” he said.