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Adeosun’s resignation to fuel political risk ahead of general election

14 Sep 2018, 05:52 pm
Financial Nigeria
Adeosun’s resignation to fuel political risk ahead of general election

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President Muhammadu Buhari had reportedly ‘instructed’ the minister to resign some weeks ago due to mounting pressure following allegations of forgery of her NYSC discharge certificate.

Nigerian Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who has reportedly resigned

Although no official statement has been issued to confirm her resignation, Nigerians have taken to the social media, particularly Twitter, to express opinions on the reported resignation of Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun.

According to various sources, President Muhammadu Buhari had ‘instructed’ the minister to resign some weeks ago due to mounting pressure following allegations of forgery of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

Reacting to Geomarkets Africa, a US-based geopolitical analysis firm, on the implications of the alleged resignation of Adeosun, Managing Editor of Financial Nigeria, Jide Akintunde, said, "We can guess that her resignation, if true, wouldn't change public opinion on the Buhari administration.

"It would be difficult for President Buhari to ask Adeosun to resign or accept her voluntary resignation, as it will only fuel public agitation that Buhari himself should provide his School Leaving Certificate -- the basic educational qualification for running for office as president, which he failed to provide when running for office in 2015. This also means Adeosun’s resignation will have only negative effects on the perception of political risk in Nigeria as the country approaches the general elections slated for February 2019."

Abdulaziz Abdulaziz and Richard Akinwumi, journalists working with the Premium Times, in July 2018, had reported that the 51-year old forged her NYSC Certificate of Exemption.

Kemi Adesoun, born in 1967, was appointed minister of finance in November 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A lawyer, Francis Obalim, had also approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to secure an order quashing and setting aside the appointment of Kemi Adeosun as a minister. According to him, her appointment contravenes Section 12, 13 and 14 of the NYSC Act.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu has been assigned to hear the suit on October 8.

"Within the context of the existing geopolitical imbalance in key appointments in the Buhari administration, the nation is expected to wait with baited breath on Adeosun’s replacement. It will take the appointment of someone with considerable respect in the marketplace as Adeosun’s replacement to forestall further dent on investor confidence, following weaker GDP growth of 1.5% recorded in Q2, uptick in inflation for the first time in 18 months, and the likely impacts of the 2019 electioneering,” Mr. Akintunde added.


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