By Mumini AbdulKareem
Following the allegation that the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki did not go through the mandatory National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria after his graduation in London, a retired director of the scheme, Chief Joseph Ebun Folayan, has reacted to the development.
The issue has gone viral on many social media platforms across the country following the resignation of the former Minister of Finance; Mrs Kemi Adeosun after her fake NYSC exemption certificate was exposed by online news medium, Premium Times.
According to him, the Senate President had his NYSC in 1989, in Lagos State.
In a statement on Tuesday against the backdrop of the allegation making the rounds that Saraki skipped the mandatory one year Service, the retired director confirmed that Saraki actually served in Lagos.
The widely circulated article was written by one Tola Lolade, titled: ‘Abubakar Bukola Saraki, where is your NYSC Certificate?
The statement reads in full; “Whatever the motive behind this misinformation, l wish to state that Dr. Bukola Saraki served his NYSC, when I was the Director of the NYSC, Lagos State, in 1989. He came into the Service as a foreign trained graduate.
“He obtained MBBS from the UK. I could still remember that I approved his request for reimbursement of his flight ticket from London, because it was the practice at that time. I am sure his NYSC certificate should be with him, because he was duly discharged from the scheme.
“Please, take note that he did not ask me to make this brief on his behalf. I did so as a responsible citizen, to prevent the misinformation from going viral.
“However, this is not the first time l would be correcting this misinformation. I did the same on the radio and newspapers, on the eve of the gubernatorial election, in 2003.”
