Many seeking positions in Oyo don’t possess NYSC certificate like me —Minister Shittu

President Muhammadu Buhari’s minister, Adebayo Shittu, who was disqualified from participating in Oyo State governorship primary has claimed that the real reason for the action against him was not because he did not observe the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

He claimed that many of the politicians in Oyo State seeking new elective positions have also like him never served in the NYSC scheme.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had disqualified, Shittu, who is the Minister of Communication, on the argument that he does not possess the NYSC certificate.

But in a statement he signed himself, Shittu suggests that the real reason he was disqualified was more of cowardice supposedly from the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his cohorts than what Nigerians are meant to believe.

“It is no longer news that I was purportedly disqualified from participating in the Sunday’s governorship primary of the APC in Oyo State on the baseless allegation of not possessing NYSC certificate.

“I also received the news, like any other person, with shock and disbelief having successfully gone through the screening process by the party’s Gubernatorial Screening Committee. The intent of the cowards behind the saga is becoming clearer by the day.

“On the issue of NYSC, I had made my position known and there’s no need to repeat myself but I wish to add that the position of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is unambiguous on the qualification for participating in governorship election.

“I have forwarded an appeal for the NWC to review and reconsider the decision not to clear me. It is my prayer and hope that this appeal process would afford our leaders the rare opportunity to salvage our party from the potentially destructive precipice into which APC in Oyo State is being pushed by the political shenanigans of Governor Ajimobi and his cohorts, many of whom have also never served in the NYSC scheme but are also seeking new elective positions.”

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The APC had since Sunday conducted its primary in the state and a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) deputy governor, Bayo Adelabu, emerged as the party’s governorship standard bearer.

Prior to the primaries, the issue of who becomes the next governor of the state had kept the governor and the minister constantly attacking each other.

 

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