“The minister has chosen to toe the path of honour in an election year and has chosen to step down so that her NYSC issue is not used against the president and the party,” the source said via phone.
“She has made a lot of sacrifices,” her resignation will halt unnecessary attacks on the integrity of Mr. President.
Integrity was, of course, the byword of the minister, the trait was displayed all through her tenure, the source said.
The source familiar with the matter said the minister was not comfortable with attacks directed at the president, saying President Muhammadu Buhari is a president of ‘Character and Integrity’.
PRESIDENT BUHARI VISIT CAMPAIGN OFFICE 2. President Muhammadu Buhari during a visit to the Campaign Office in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. AUG 1ST 2018
The finance minister’s resignation came as a surprise after months of her refusal to comment on or deny the allegation that she skipped the mandatory national youth service and chose to forge an exemption certificate instead.
Sources as the ministry of finance though said presidential investigation into the alleged fraudulent procurement of an exemption certificate, supposedly signed by Yusuf Bomoi, a former Director General of the NYSC would have indicted the former minister.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, had said four days ago on state broadcasting network, NTA, that the presidency was investigating the alleged forgery, more than 60 days after Premium Times broke the story.
