Yoruba Council of Elders salutes Kemi Adeosun calling her a woman of courage and character

YORUBA Council of Elders (YCF) have praised former finance minister Kemi Adeosun for taking the principled decision to resign after being embroiled in a National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) certificate forgery scandal saying it showed the kind of character she is.

On Friday, Ms Adeosun, 51, tendered resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari and left the country after a national daily Premium Times, had revealed that she had forged an NYSC exemption certificate to enable her serve in government. Ms Adeosun, a UK-trained economist and chartered accountant, was not aware of the protocol had applied for the certificate but unknown to her, the one procured for her was forged.

President Buhari accepted Ms Adeosun's resignation on Friday and named minister of state for budget and national planning Zainab Ahmed, as acting finance minister pending the appointment of a substantive appointee. Reacting to the development, Dr Kunle Olajide, the YCE general secretary, said Ms Adeosun was a victim of mischievous individuals involved in the process that produced the forged certificate.

He noted that there were government officials who had been accused of one fraudulent practice or the other but still in government in various capacities. Dr Olajide also commended Ms Adeosun for leaving behind a glorious achievement as a minister, having steered Nigeria out of recession when she was given no chance.

Dr Olajide added:  “YCE received the news of Adeosun’s exit from the cabinet with sadness and joy. It was with sadness because she was exiting office in an inglorious circumstance but her pedigree and antecedent as mentioned in her resignation letter, however, speaks volume of her confidence, character and capability.

“We are proud of her achievements in office because she assumed duty at a difficult time in the history of the country and she steered Nigeria out of recession when many did not give her a chance to do so. YCE commends her courage to resign honourably when she discovered that her NYSC certificate was not genuine.”

Offering some advice to Ms Adeosun, Dr Olajide urged the former minister not to be deterred by the setback, saying that her services would still be required by the country. Adenrele Adesina, the current Ogun State commissioner for budget and planning is thought to be considered as the favourite to replace Ms Adeosun.