Home Blog Page 2523

2018 Kogi flood disaster worse than that of 2012, says Yahaya Bello

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
2018 Kogi flood disaster worse than that of 2012, says Yahaya Bello

THE confluence State of Kogi suffered another devastating flood disaster over the weekend as dozens of homes were submerged in several parts of the state, including the capital, Lokoja.

Kogi State is called the confluence state because it is the meeting point of rivers Niger and Benue. The state has suffered several flooding disasters in the past, but the recent incident has been described as the worst since 2012.

Governor of the State, Yahaya Bello, told journalists that this year’s flood incident was by far more severe than that of 2012. He called on the federal government to come to the state’s assistance, while also urging those affected by the flood to evacuate to higher grounds.

“Don’t say it is your ancestral home. You need to be alive first before claiming ancestral homes,” Bello said.

Reports say Koton-Karfe and Ibaji were among the worst hit local governments, with houses, clinics, churches, mosques, farmland, and even the state High Court, all affected by the flood.

Residents affected by the flood are taking shelter in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, in the hope that the waters will soon recede.

Unconfirmed social media reports say some lives had been lost as a result of the flooding in Kogi State, but Governor Bello said no casualty has been recorded so far.

This is coming few days after hundreds of communities were sacked by flood across several local government areas in Niger State. Almost all the States in Nigeria have experienced flooding disasters, but some states had less severe experiences than others.

Outside Nigeria, the States of North and South Carolina in the United States of America have also witnessed severe flooding, caused by a power storm nicknamed ‘Hurricane Florence’. The situation has left millions of persons without electricity, while several thousand others have bee evacuated from their homes. At the last count, 17 persons have been reported in the disaster.

Similarly, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China all witnessed hurricane-induced floodings over the weekend, resulting in loss of several lives and destruction of property. Also in the United Kingdom, authorities have placed the citizens on a high alert about an impending storm, termed ‘Hurricane Helen’, which is expected to happen within the next 24 hours.

Kemi Adeosun’s dishonourable resignation

Editorial
-
0
Kemi Adeosun’s dishonourable resignation

By ‘Fisayo Soyombo

NORMALLY, in a country where politicians and public office holders are not good friends with the resignation letter, anyone of them who leaves a job receives a hero’s welcome. Expectedly, since her resignation letter was made public on Friday, former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun has been widely branded the poster girl for honour. “Adeosun bowed out in honour,” many have said; others have stopped short of calling her a saint.

From sainthood, Adeosun’s latest status has been elevated to victimhood — or, put another way, she has managed to hoodwink the unsuspecting public into elevating her to victimhood. Having read her resignation letter multiple times, I still cannot find anything honourable in it. At least three things would have made this resignation honourable: the timing, the context, and the content of the letter. On all three counts, she was found wanting. This will be explained in a moment, but first let’s restate the facts of the matter.

The Premium Times investigation exposed a few incontrovertible facts. Having been born and educated in the UK, Adeosun returned to Nigeria in 2002, aged 35, but refused to undergo the NYSC programme. She obtained an NYSC exemption certificate that the newspaper says is forged but she claims is fake, and that was after working in Nigeria for seven years. The fake/forged certificate was not spotted by the Ogun State government, which she served as Commissioner of Finance between 2011 and 2015, and by the Federal Government despite supposed screening by the Department of State Services (DSS). On spotting the forged certificate, legislature cleared her to become Finance Minister but soon began blackmailing her once she assumed office, and she has reportedly awarded them billions of naira that she ordinarily wouldn’t have. The report was published on July 7, Adeosun resigned on September 14.

Adeosun’s resignation letter is filled with untruths. In it, she says: “When I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.” That’s one.

She also adds: “On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to or familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine.” That’s another. For obvious reasons, there’s no way in the world this can be true.

The NYSC Act is clear on those who are eligible for exemption. As per age, they are people “over the age of 30 at the date of graduation”. The law is clear: over 30 at the age of graduation — not over 30 at the date of asking or over 30 at the date of return to Nigeria. Adeosun didn’t need the guidance of any “trusted associates”; all she needed was to consult the Act. Of course, a Minister of the Federal Republic and a former Commissioner of Finance knew this; to suggest otherwise in her resignation letter is not only dishonourable, but it is also disrespectful to Nigerians and an insult to their sensibilities.

The social media has been agog with how all of us are thieves but only the Finance Minister was apprehended — how we’re all carrying improperly-documented international passports, fake Customs and insurance certificates, and fake driver’s licences. But this is like comparing apples with grapes. For example, a 14-year-old cannot blame the system for his fake driver’s licence — because he shouldn’t even have one in the first place, original or fake. Similarly, Adeosun’s woes cannot be blamed on the system — because, although our documentation processes are admittedly chaotic, she never deserved even an original exemption certificate. Only an eligible candidate can complain of being issued a fake exemption certificate!

On timing, Adeosun missed the chance to bow out honourably when, rather than throw in the towel, she clung on desperately to the job. She could have resigned when NYSC stopped short of hanging her, incredulously claiming its records showed she applied but also adding it would “investigate the purported exemption certificate”. Were it not for sustained pressure from Premium Times, the civil society and other sections of the Nigerian public, she would have hung on to the job.

Contextually, Adeosun cannot claim full credit for her resignation, especially with the revelation by Sahara Reporters that it was indeed President Muhammadu Buhari who told her she had to go — that kind of technical sacking. Left to her, she would have stayed, which would have rendered her to Buhari the electoral baggage that Stella Oduah was to Goodluck Jonathan. And this doesn’t mean credit to Buhari; his action was opportunistic. Had this not been election season, the President would have kept Adeosun in his cabinet and shunned the public outcry like he has done numerous times already during his presidency. It’s all about pre-election perception. Did anyone wonder why the resignation letter released by the Presidency was not dated? It is because the resignation was deliberately made public to extinguish intense public criticism over the replacement of DSS DG Mathew Seiyefa with Yusuf Bichi. Pure, diversionary tactic!

Adeosun may be out of the way but there is still an important task: who are the legislators who blackmailed her into releasing undue funds to the National Assembly, running into billions of naira? It doesn’t matter if they are PDP or APC legislators, the much-vaunted anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration must fish them out and bring them to face the law.

Soyombo, former Editor of the TheCable and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), tweets @fisayosoyombo

Pope Francis expels Chilean priest over sexual abuse allegations

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Pope Francis expels Chilean priest over sexual abuse allegations

POPE Francis has defrocked a Chilean Catholic Priest, Cristian Precht Bañados, following allegations of sexual abuse against him.

Chile has been at the forefront of countries with the highest number of sexual abuse cases, especially of minors. This had led to all the Catholic Bishops in the country tendering their resignation letters to Pope Francis in May this year, a move that was described as unprecedented in the history of the Catholic church.

In the resignation letter, the bishops said they had placed the issue “in the hands of the Holy Father so that he might freely decide for each one of us”.

The CNN reports that the expulsion of Father Precht is the first formal resignation the Pope has decreed since the Bishops’ resignation in May. The Priest had been suspended in 2012 from active priestly practice for five years after the Archbishop of Santiago ordered a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against him.

The Archbishop issued a statement at the time saying that investigations established “verifiable reports of abusive behaviour with adults and minors” against Precht. However, Precht has not been charged with any crimes by Chilean authorities, but he was not allowed to leave the country’s capital, Santiago, pending the completion of investigations.

When the allegations of sexual abuse were first made against Precht in 2013, he denied “ever forcing anyone’s will, be it an adult or a minor, woman or man”. Again, in February 2018, when the issue came up again, he released a statement saying: “I absolutely deny participating, in any way, in the acts which I’m slanderously being accused of. I will defend my personal and clerical honour in every way I can and any time it’s violated.”

Precht was quite popular in Chile and known for being a fierce defender of human rights during the Chilean dictatorship. His defrocking comes as the Catholic Church continues to face criticism over its response to myriad allegations of sexual abuse against Catholic clergy over the years.

Pope Francis has called a meeting of all the Presidents of the Bishops Conferences of all the countries of the world to come up with ways to stop the issue of sexual abuse in the church. The meeting is expected to hold in February 2019.

Osun Decides 2018: INEC to fight vote buying in Osun election

Rebecca Akinremi
-
0
Osun Decides 2018: INEC to fight vote buying in Osun election

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it plans to use the Osun governorship election, which is set for September 22, to make a strong statement against vote buying in preparation for the 2019 general election.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, said this at an election dialogue organized by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) tagged Ending the Scourge of Vote Buying and Selling in Nigerian Election at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Yakubu noted that the challenge of vote buying was not just worrisome to the Commission but also the entire country. He described the issue of vote buying in Nigeria as cancer, a menace, and a shame to the electoral process.

“We will overcome vote buying just as we have risen above previous challenges to our electoral processes,” he affirmed.

Yakubu said polling units would be organized in such a way that it would be impossible for voters to expose their ballot papers to agents of the vote buyers.

“This action will address infractions that happen at the polling units. Some of the infractions take place at the polling units while some outside the polling unit on election day. Some even take place before elections through cash transfer,” he said.

Likewise, the INEC boss announced that the use of mobile phones and other devices in the polling cubicles would be banned, adding that the Commission would create strategies to sensitize citizens on vote buying and selling in elections.

In addition to the above measures, Yakubu also called on various stakeholders including, security agencies, political parties, civil society organizations, the media and citizens to tackle the rising phenomenon of vote buying and selling.

“We all have to come together to address this challenge. The truth is that buyers and sellers know that they are committing illegality but nobody comes out to say I am a vote buyer or I am a vote seller,” he said.

He urged the security agencies to cooperate with the Commision to arrest vote buyers and sellers, pointing out that the law empowers INEC to prosecute the vote traders, but lacked the capacity to arrest and investigative offenders.

Similarly, he said INEC would continue to work with anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offenses Commission (ICPC) to track and prosecute offenders who explore the electronic cash transfer strategy to undermine the electoral process.

The INEC chairman assured the people of Osun and other Nigerians that only the people’s vote would continue to determine the outcome of elections in the country.

Osun Decides 2018: A brief profile of Osun State

Amos ABBA
-
0
Osun Decides 2018: A brief profile of Osun State

OSUN State is currently basking in the spotlight as the people of the state go to the poll to choose the next governor come September 22. 

The State, formerly referred to as the ‘State of the Living Spring’, but now known as ‘the Land of Virtue’, was created from the old Oyo state on August 27, 1991, by the administration of the then Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida. After the high wire politics among the interested parties,  Osogbo was eventually selected as the capital city.

The landlocked state roughly spreads over an area of 14,875 km2, with an estimated population of about 4 million people according to the National Population Census carried out in 2006. It is bounded by Ogun State to the south, Kwara State to the north, Oyo State to the west and Ekiti and Ondo State to the east. The state is within the tropical rainforest with an abundance of resources. Minerals resources found in the state include gold, kaolin, and others.

Osun state is a multi-cultural society that is home to different sub-ethnic groups namely Ijesha, Ife, Ibolo, Igbomina and Oyo all of Yoruba extraction, whose culturally rich and uniquely distinct tradition can be seen in all spheres of life such as arts, literature, music and other social activities in the state.

The agrarian state prides itself arguably as the “breadbasket of South West Nigeria” because of the abundance of food and cash crops it is naturally endowed with, which pools traders and artisans to the state and further help in its economic development. The state is also famous for many prominent markets such as Owena, Sekona, Ikirun, Ifon, Odo Ori markets and attracts people from different parts of the country to the state.

Osun state is a cultural hub with ancient antiquities that boost a thriving tourism industry that had seen visitors from different countries of the world paying visits to tourist attractions like the Osun – Osogbo sacred grove, Olumirin waterfalls in Erin – Ijesa amongst others. Every year, adherents and non-adherents of Osun, one of the Orisa (the traditional deities of the Yoruba people), travel from all over the world to attend the annual Osun – Osogbo festival in August. The foremost traditional ruler in Osun State is the Ooni of Ife, currently personified by Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) who is believed to be a descendant of Oduduwa the ancestor of the Yoruba nation.

In the build-up to the Osun 2018 gubernatorial election, it is not unusual to hear different political rhetorics, speeches and campaign slogans from various politicians gunning for the office of the Governor but the ball lies in the court of the eligible voters to determine who occupies the Government House at Abere for the next four years. Records obtained from INEC as at 3rd September 2018 reveals that 1,682,495 people were duly registered to vote while the number of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) that has been collected is put at 1,208,187 which is estimated at 72.03 per cent, also the number of uncollected Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is put at 468,025 which accounts for 27.9 per cent of the voting populace.

With 48 political parties vying for the plum job, the only female aspirant in the polls is Mercy Ayodele on the platform of Restoration Party of Nigeria (RPN) while all the other candidates are all males. With 3,010 polling units spread across 332 wards in the 30 local government councils of the state, though the outcome of the election is uncertain pundits and political enthusiasts know who the major contenders are to replace the current governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Chronological list of democratically elected governors of Osun State and their parties

  • Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke (SDP): was in charge from January 1992 to November 1993.             
  • Chief Bisi Akande (AD): served from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2003
  • Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (PDP) took over from Chief Akande and was in charge from May 29, 2003, – May 29, 2007, for the first term. He served for three and a half years of his second tenure but was removed by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, on November 26,  2010.
  • Rauf Aregbesola (ACN/APC): was declared the validly elected Governor in the 2007 election by the Court of Appeal. He began his first term on November 27, 2010, and won a second term in 2014. He is the current Governor of Osun State.

Certificate forgery: Nigerians want Obono-Obla to resign like Adeosun or be fired

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Certificate forgery: Nigerians want Obono-Obla to resign like Adeosun or be fired

FOLLOWING the eventual resignation of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Nigerians have begun to campaign for another of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide who has been accused of certificate forgery, to resign or be fired.

Okoi Obono-Obla, Buhari’s Special Assistant on Prosecutions, as well as the Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, was accused of parading a Senior Secondary Certificate that had been altered, and therefore, not valid.

The case had been investigated by a panel of the House of Representatives, during which officials of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) testified that the certificate Obono-Obla parades is not valid because it had been altered.

Also, the University of Jos, where Obono-Obla obtained his law degree, testified that the certificate which WAEC said was not valid, was what the accused person used to gain admission.

The Nigerian Law School, whose Director General, Isa-Hayatu Chiroma, also testified before the House of Reps panel, however, said it does not have a copy of Obono-Obla’s WAEC certificate as the minimum requirement for admission into the Law School does not include WAEC.

One of the disparities noticed in the Obono-Obla’s WAEC result, according to the House investigative panel, was that “the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the result for Candidate No: 094051247 May/June 1982, showed that the candidate (Obono-Obla) was absent at the exam for Literature. (But) in the result with the University of Jos, he claimed to have credit in Literature in English”.

In its final report, the investigative panel stated that “the Law degree obtained by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla,  having been done fraudulently, should be withdrawn by the University of Jos”.

It also asked the Body of Benchers to “withdraw the Law School Certificate awarded to Ofem, Okoi Ofem (now known as Chief Okoi Obono-Obla)  as this was based on the degree which he obtained from the University of Jos through fraud”.

Though the report of the House investigative panel has been public knowledge for several months now, the Buhari administration, like it did when the Adeosun’s forgery scandal was first reported, has refused to even issue an official statement on the matter.

Obono-Obla, till date, continues in his various offices at the presidency. Following Adeosun’s resignation, many are digging up the matter, urging him to also resign, or that President Buhari should show him the exit door.

“It’s impossible to see any excuse for retaining Chief Obono-Obla in the role of heading asset recovery for govt,” tweeted former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, on Saturday.

“Kemi Adeosun’s case began as compliance failure. With forged WASC, Obono-Obla isn’t even a graduate to begin with. Keeping him there is messed up and beyond.”

Here are some other tweets calling for Obono-Obla’s removal:

https://twitter.com/utuakpa/status/1038356212948115456

Osun Decides 2018: Candidates who want to replace Aregbesola

Damilola OJETUNDE
-
0
Osun Decides 2018: Candidates who want to replace Aregbesola

EXACTLY a week from now, the electorate in Osun state will go to the polls to elect the governor for the next four years.

The September 22nd election will be the fifth consecutive governorship election to be held in the state since the return of democracy in 1999.

Chief Adebisi Akande was the first elected governor in 1999. He contested under on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). In 2003, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was re-elected in 2007. The 2007 election rigged against the opposition Action Congress (AC) was contested at the tribunal and won by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. On 26th November, Aregbesola was declared the winner of the April 14, 2007 governorship election. He was re-elected on August 9, 2014.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented the names of 48 political parties cleared to contest for the election in Osun State.

Although there are 48 parties and thus 48 governorship candidates, The ICIR have identified five of them as major contenders. They are a former secretary to the state government, Fatai Akinbade of the ADC; immediate past secretary to the state government, Moshood Adeoti of the ADP; the candidate of the governing APC, Adegboyega Oyetola; a senator, Ademola Adeleke of the PDP; and a former senator, Iyiola Omisore of the SDP.

FATAI AKINBADE

Fatai Akinbade was born in April 1955 in Ogbaagbaa, a town in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area. He has a Diploma in Civil Engineering. In 2003, he was appointed Secretary to the state by Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Fatai Akinbade is contesting on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

MOSHOOD ADEOTI

Moshood Adeoti was born in Iwo, headquarters of Iwo Local Government Council Area of the state on February 27, 1953. He is a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Benin. After holding several political positions both in government and at party levels such as the State Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) a precursor of APC, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government of Osun in January 2011 by the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration. He is contesting on the platform of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

ADEGBOYEGA OYETOLA

Adegboyega Oyetola was born in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos with a B.Sc degree in Insurance and Master of Business Administration(MBA) in Finance. He is currently the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun state. Gboyega Oyetola is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

ADEMOLA ADELEKE

Ademola Adeleke was born on 13th May 1960 in Enugu. He hails from Ede, Ede local government of Osun state. He holds a secondary school leaving certificate (WASCE). He is currently the senator representing Osun West senatorial district at the Senate. He is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election.

IYIOLA OMISORE

Iyiola Omisore was born on 15th September 1957. He hails from Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State. He holds two engineering degrees, a postgraduate certificate and a PhD in Infrastructure Finance. Omisore served as Deputy State Governor of Osun State from 1999 – 2003 under Governor Adebisi Akande. He was elected to the Senate to represent Osun East constituency in 2003 running on the platform of the PDP and served till the expiration of his term in 2007. In 2007, he was re-elected as a Senator. Omisore is contesting on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Buhari tells HSBC bank to return Nigeria’s stolen assets

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Buhari tells HSBC bank to return Nigeria’s stolen assets

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has launched a fierce counterattack against HSBC bank following the bank’s prediction that the Nigerian economy would shrink further if the president wins a second term in office.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement Saturday night, said a bank that is renowned for corruption “has no moral right whatsoever to project that a ‘second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration’”.

A UK-based magazine, The Economist, and the HSBC, had predicted, in an article published in July, but cited recently by various Nigerian media organisations, that Buhari will lose the 2019 presidential election to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and that should Buhari be re-elected, Nigeria’s economic development will be stunted.

In his statement, Shehu pointed out that the HSBC bank has refused to release to Nigeria the billions of dollars stashed there by former military Head of State, Sani Abacha, and had continued, “until a few months ago, to shield the stolen funds of one of the leaders of the Nigerian Senate”.

“The Presidency wishes to make clear to all Nigerians, and particularly the global banking giant HSBC which said the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari would stunt the economy, that what killed Nigeria’s economy in the past was the unbridled looting of state resources by leaders, the type which was actively supported by HSBC,” Shehu stated.

“From the facts available to our investigation agencies, HSBC’s put down on President Buhari is no more than an expression of frustration over the administration’s measures put in place which has abolished grand corruption, the type which this bank thrives on in many countries.

“They may also just be out to discredit the President out of the fear of sanctions and fines following the national assets that are stolen.

“For many of them, including their friends in the media, they would rather have President Buhari out of their way, for business as usual to return.”

The statement further added that “HSBC had laundered more than USD 100,000,000 for the late General Sani Abacha in Jersey, Paris, London and Geneva”, as well as “the laundering of proceeds of corruption involving more than 50 other Nigerians, including a serving Senator”.

“A bank that soiled its hand with ‘‘millions of US dollars yet-to-be-recovered….has no moral right whatsoever to project that a second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration. Rather, we ask them to heed President Buhari’s constant refrain: return our stolen assets, then see how well we will do,” the statement wrote.

 

Adeosun confirms resignation, states own side of certificate forgery story

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Adeosun confirms resignation, states own side of certificate forgery story

THE Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has tendered her resignation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, following allegations of certificate forgery against her.

Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, confirmed this on Friday night, saying that the President had accepted the resignation.

Reports had been all over the place earlier on Friday that Adeosun had stepped aside, but there was no official statement from the government until late in the evening.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, (on) Friday accepted the resignation of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun,” Adesina stated.

“The President thanked the Minister for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.

“The President also approved that the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, should oversee the Ministry of Finance with effect from today (Friday, September 14, 2018).”

Adesina also published Adeosun’s resignation letter, in which she stated her own side of the story in the certificate forgery saga.

In the letter, Adeosun said the knowledge that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate which she parades was not genuine, came to her “as a rude shock”, and in keeping with the administration’s focus on integrity, she had no option than to “do the honourable thing and resign”.

Read the full text of Adeosun’sresignation letter below:

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty.

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport. I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me. Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding.

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, It has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long-term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short-term task and there are no shortcuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilization and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians.

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes.

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)

Hero or villain? Reactions to Adeosun’s purported resignation

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Hero or villain? Reactions to Adeosun’s purported resignation

WHILE the federal government is yet to confirm or deny the reported resignation of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Nigerians are arguing whether she should be seen as being honourable (that’s if she truly resigned) or merely bowing to pressure.

On the one hand, many say Adeosun has done the right thing and deserves to be commended for towing the path of honour and deciding to step aside, even though she has been one of the shining lights of Buhari’s administration.

But on the other hand, some said that Adeosun did not qualify to be appointed a minister in the first, therefore the best thing would be for her to face prosecution and appropriate punishment meted out to her by the courts, as a deterrence to others.

Another group, however, said the Adeosun resignation saga was just a ploy by the federal government to divert the attention of Nigerians from Thursday’s controversial change of leadership of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The ICIR complied some of the views on the ongoing discussion and invites you to have your on say:

https://twitter.com/DrJoeAbah/status/1040577251769819136

https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/1040576770729279489

Whether Adeosun resigns or remains at her job, many Nigerians already have formed an opinion about her certificate saga.

1...2,5222,5232,524...3,440Page 2,523 of 3,440