The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to be coerced by President Muhammadu Buhari into covering the certificate forgery allegation against Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, with a purported investigation.
Mrs Adeosun is alleged to have obtained a fake exemption certificate after skipping the mandatory one-year national service.
The NYSC in a statement on Monday admitted that the 51-year-old applied for an exemption certificate but added that it “shall investigate the origin of the purported exemption certificate in question.”
A statement signed on Wednesday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the Presidency is mounting pressure on NYSC to cover up for the minister.”
“Nigerians are closely monitoring this issue and the public is already aware of pressure on the NYSC leadership to announce a misplacement of relevant files and other excuses to achieve a dead end in the investigation.
“The NYSC must therefore know that its reputation is highly at stake as Nigerians are already agitated over the questionable delay by the Corps in coming out with an answer on a direct issue that requires a simple computer or even manual file check at its headquarters.
“Indeed, a simple process of matching the serial numbering, date and authorizing signature on Mrs. Adeosun’s certificate does not require a lengthy investigation or the current shenanigan going on at the NYSC headquarters,” the statement said.
Any attempt to cover up, the party said, “will invoke the wrath of Nigerians and irredeemably rubbish the integrity and respect the Corps has earned over the years.”
