Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, don talk say her decision to resign from former President Muhammadu Buhari cabinet for 2018 over NYSC certificate wahala na the best choice she make.
Adeosun yarn this one on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande for Channels Television on Friday, say her resignation no mean say she guilty, but na principled decision to protect public office and her personal integrity.
According to her, she step aside so the Office of the Minister of Finance no go turn distraction point, especially as she bin dey challenge the matter for court.
“People dey ask why I resign. I still believe say na the right thing. My resignation na matter of principle, no be admission of wrongdoing,” Adeosun talk.
She explain say e no make sense for her to dey represent Nigeria for high-level meetings for Abuja, Lagos and abroad, while at the same time dey go court over integrity matter.
“I no fit dey attend international meetings as Minister of Finance and still dey appear for court on issue of reputation,” she add.
Adeosun also talk say she no fit sue the same government wey she dey serve as one of the top economic officers.
She recall her final discussion with President Buhari, say she tell am clearly say she need to resign to clear her name. According to her, Buhari support the decision.
“These names na loan from our children and grandchildren. You no destroy your name because you wan remain minister,” she quote Buhari.
Court Finally Clear Her Name
Di NYSC controversy wey lead to her resignation later clear for court. For July 2021, Federal High Court for Abuja rule say Adeosun no legally required to do NYSC.
Court talk say when she graduate from University of East London for 1989 at age 22, she no be Nigerian citizen, and she don already pass NYSC age limit before citizenship law change.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo also rule say Nigerian Constitution no require NYSC certificate before person fit become minister.
Talk on Subsidy, Tax and Economy
Beyond di NYSC matter, Adeosun still talk about Nigeria economy, fuel subsidy and tax reforms. She say fuel subsidy na heavy burden wey dey drain money from roads, education and health.
“All ministers know say subsidy dey kill us. You no fit dey consume 65 million litres per day with only about 10 million cars,” she talk.
On tax reform, she say finance ministers no dey popular people.
“If everybody love your finance minister, e mean say dem no dey do their job well,” she add.
She also praise efforts to harmonise NIN, BVN and TIN data, say once data join together, e go hard for people to hide, especially with AI.
Security, Charity and Life After Government
Adeosun also share personal experience about insecurity, reveal say armed robbers once attack her inside her house.
“E scary well-well. I never sleep for that house again,” she say.
Despite that, she say she get hope say current government dey show strong will to fight insecurity across Nigeria.
Now wey she don fully comot government, Adeosun dey focus on her charity initiative, DashMe Stores, wey she launch for 2021. She say the organisation don raise over ₦500 million to support orphanages and vulnerable communities for Lagos, Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.
DashMe get plans to expand to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt and more parts of the FCT.
On poverty matter, Adeosun say the real fight no be just poverty reduction, but social mobility.
“The worst poverty na generational poverty. Education and enterprise na the real way out,” she conclude.
The former minister also encourage Nigerians make dem take responsibility for development, instead of waiting for government alone.
