Kemi Adeosun: Commendation, Not Condemnation, Please
BY IRETI MOLAKE
The magnanimous act of immediate past Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, is somehow like a cool warmth of fire in my belly. It is exciting, and I’m delighted to know that we can still locate some truth and integrity even in the high corridors of power!
I have read an admixture of reactions on the resignation, Friday, by Mrs. Adeosun-some complimentary, some not so complimentary. But as for me, the courageous act by the ex-Minister delights me on end.
As soon as she had satisfied herself with the report of the NYSC investigation, or accepted that of the investigators, she tendered her resignation. Unlike some, I care not to refer to. In a clime where people are allergic to resigning when their term or game is up, this woman deserves commendation and not condemnation.
But tossing the other side of the coin, some question/matters beg for answers. Was she engaged as an expatriate and paid as such and in dollars like her predecessor, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala?
In her resignation letter, she said she only came to Nigeria at the age of 34 probably to take on this job, or its precursor in Ogun State. She also said her parental family home is England. Meaning: she no be Naija!
And this: how much did she give to her ‘trusted associates’ to get her a genuine exception certificate from the NYSC only for them to get it from ‘Oluwole’ (headquarters of fakery in Nigeria)?
Quite frankly, I blame not this woman. Instead, I blame the people around her.
The observations and assessments I have made from this incident are a few. Parents, especially the middle class and the privileged should stop over-pampering their children or treating them as though some tasks are beneath them. This is wrong. For Christ’s sake, these kids operate washing machines, vacuum cleaners, go on the tube, subway, intercity trains and buses in England and the US. They go to the council or whatever government office they need and queue up! So, why over-pamper them, especially when they come home? As long as this trend continues, such children would become vulnerable to exploitation by bad people.
That is why the Adeosuns of this world would continue to be taken advantage of and given valueless pieces of paper for certificates, and bring embarrassment and ugly attention that their families do not deserve.
For those who live abroad, and have raised their children and even grandchildren there, it would not be a bad idea if they familiarise themselves with trends at home and allow/encourage their children to were to come to Nigeria to participate in the mandatory national service; regardless of whether or not they intend taking up public office at home in future.
You never know when you may need it for something important. It would just be like a year out. I recommend that after our young ones graduate and bag their first degree, they should get first-hand experience of their ancestral land before going for further studies in America, Europe or South Africa or Morocco. And there is no better way to do that than national service.
Maybe the government should introduce a form of national service for those born or living abroad and are of Nigerian ancestry.
Back to Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. Let no one shed any crocodile tears for her or play God in her case. She has served her ancestral land meritoriously, even better than the so-called real born and home-bred Nigerians; even better than many who did the one year compulsory national service. Good on you, girl!
And to those ‘trusted associates’; they may have thought their deed would never be found out. They may have put up the usual, ‘is this not Nigeria attitude’, and basked in the confidence that since the document was for someone well connected, no one would say or do anything. Boy, were they wrong! They did not factor in a leader like President Muhammadu Buhari, a man of integrity and strict morals, would be at the helm of affairs in the country at this point in our history.
Kemi Adeosun has resigned. I hope she’ll not be prosecuted. Rather, I think those who issued the fake certificate, the present DG of the NYSC, and the head of NYSC at the time should be made to face charges.
Finally to rest of us, it’s time we started doing things the right way.
Once again, I salute the leadership qualities and integrity of the former Finance Minister. It’s sad, Naija people have taught the Minister a hard lesson. I feel for you, my sister.
The experience must have put a sour taste into your mouth as you head back to the land of fish and chips; Land of Hope and Glory. Despite your sad experience, my sister, do not turn your back on your fatherland anytime we need your help.
Ta-ta Kemi, immense thanks for your contribution to the economic stability of our nation.
- Ireti Molake, a food scientist, contributes this article from Lagos.
Adeosun : Exit Of Buhari’s Star Player
BY DESMOND EKWUEME
In football, a “star player” is the player who makes positive things happen to the team in the field of play. He or she is the game changer. He or she is the player with the most. He’s got the talisman instinct and prowess. He or she conjures something when the chips are down. He or she is mercurial. He or she bells the cat when the going gets real tough. He’s the leading light of the team. A player the manager relies so much on to give him victory.
No team or coach or manager wants or loves to lose his or her star player. The manager or coach does everything within his powers to keep his star player. The star player often gets preferential treatments including the fattest wage just to keep him or her. But no star player plays in or with a team forever. He or she will someday retire due to age or gets poached by teams with bank-breaking fees. Injury can force him or her to quit. And when he or she quits the team for any of these reasons, he or she throws the team into a panic mode on how to get a befitting replacement. Often times, his or her shoes may be too big to step into by those bought and brought in as replacement.
Many are already applauding the honorable decision of former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun to resign her position and save the Muhammadu Buhari Administration the integrity test the matter brought for it. They say she deserves a pat on her back for doing the needful by toeing the path of honour.
But for her insistence, which angered Mr. President, she would have remained on her job given that she is one of the few trusted hands around Mr. President. In fact, Villa sources say, she is perceived as the best among the cabinet members. Call her the star player of Team Buhari, and you won’t be wrong.
To lose such a staff is often not an easy pill to swallow among administrators. Though, a replacement has been named by PMB in the person of Zainab Ahmed, those who know say it was just a face-saving move to prove that no one is indispensable in government since government is a continuous process. But the Presidency will miss the loyalty, humility, diligence, expertise and enterprise of the London trained economic-cum-financial expert.
“In a ministerial cabinet dominated by men, most of whom have not performed up to an average score or rating since assuming duties, Adeosun will be grossly missed by the presidency. Though, the President has not spoken against or condemned any of his ministers, his body language suggests that he is not happy with their performance hence most of them will not return if the President wins the 2019 election,” says a source.
Had Adeosun stayed till 2019, she surely would have retained her No. 10 shirt in Buhari’s squad.
The fact that Adeosun handles a key ministry which she has effectively managed or administered to support the economic agenda of President Buhari will no doubt create some worries for the Presidency.
“Resigning at this time is very disturbing for the Presidency. With months to the election, no one expected her to throw in the towel even though the presidency knew she had been disturbed by the scandal which kept her away from the public sphere. Her exit is a minus for this administration because she is doing excellently well and it is on the crest of her performance that this administration rides or anchors. The recovery of Abacha’s loot is a fundamental achievement traceable to her hard work”, another source said.
Now that Adeosun is gone, the Buhari administration will be put to test on how it is going to manage the economy especially when the controversial TSA is considered. For the new Finance Minister to settle on her job, it could take a bit of time which could eat into the election preparation and agenda of government even as Nigerians are applauding the exit of Buhari’s star player.
