As more reactions have continued to trail her resignation, many people have said that the immediate past Nigerian Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun lacked Nigerian Spirit of politics. They said rather than resigning her exalted national appointment, she would have approached a court of law and sought for the service of one thousand and one lawyers to defend herself like the die-hard Nigerian politicians.
For the past few months, Adeosun had been battling with allegations of forgery of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate—the issue that had opened more doors of attacks and criticism to the Buhari led corruption fighting government.
Adeosun, who resigned her appointment from the cabinet of President Muhammodu Buhari in September 14 amid the allegations, explained the reason for her action in an eight paragraphed letter to the president and as made available to the press.
The letter read in part:
“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.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians have traced the right spirit behind her resignation to her background which she had in the United Kingdom, saying it would not have possible for her to step down from her appointment had it been she was born and raised here.
Reacting to the matter among others who held to similar opinions, Engr. Felix Adeola from Iganmu area of Lagos, said he had felt there was more to her resignation until he read her letter to the president in which it was made known she had never visited the country until she was 34.
“Though I do not support forgery, but I was thinking there had been more to her issue beyond NYSC certificate drama when I heard of her resignation. This is because Nigerian politicians are shameless – they wouldn’t step down from any appointment even they were caught red-handed in a dirty act. They would rather go to court and hire one thousand and one lawyers just to retain their position. But in some developed countries things are not the same. Once you are alleged, it’s a shameful thing. And it doesn’t take them much time to return to their shells on the heel of the allegations”, Adeola said.
A look into recent events from UK where Kemi Adeosun grew up, and in the light of Engr. Felix Adeola’s view; in February 1, 2017 a British Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon resigned his post from the cabinet of the UK Prime Minister, Theresa Mary May. His resignation was following the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against him.
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Fallon was reportedly claiming that “many of these have been false but I accept that in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the Armed Forces that I have the honour to represent”, Vox reported.
Similarly, UK Home Secretary, Amber Rudd quitted her post on Sunday 29th of April, 2018, claiming that through her advice, she inadvertently misled government over targets for the deportation of illegal immigrants from the country.
Rudd reportedly resigned amid a growing scandal over the government’s mistreatment of the so-called “Windrush generation” men and women from the Caribbean who arrived in Britain in the 1950s and 60s, but in recent years have been declared illegal immigrants despite having lived in the country for decades.
In her remarks on the issue, Rudd reportedly said “Since appearing before the Select Committee, I have reviewed the advice I was given on this issue and become aware of information provided to my office which makes mention of targets. I should have been aware of this, and take full responsibility for the fact that I was not”
This time, Rudd was said to be fourth high-ranking minister to resign from May’s government within a period of six months, CNN reported.
