The replaced Postmaster General of the Federation, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, on Sunday said he would fight against any attempt to justify his replacement by linking his name with any fraud.
Adewusi, in a statement personally signed by him, said replacement of pubic officials is a normal thing which does not require any action provided that follows the due process.
In his first reaction after the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy announced first, his suspension and then replacement, Adewusi said his decision to break silence was compelled by what he perceives as a gradual move by some quarters to link his replacement to fraud.
“But I am compelled to make this statement on the ground that some desperate attempts are being made to link my hard-earned reputation of more than six decades and more than three of those in excellent and patriotic services to the country, to some unidentified and unsubstantiated fraud.
“It is my decision to vehemently resist any strand of misinformation or damage to my reputation, all in an ungodly bid to seek justifications, where there is none, for some unwholesome actions,” Adewusi stated
Describing the intention of those seeking to find an acceptable reason for his replacement as “ugly and sinister,” he said “appointment or replacement of a public official, if all due processes have been adhered to, should ordinarily not be a surprise.”
His response came on the heels of few publications which he alleged insinuated fraud as reason for his removal.
Saying those who orchestrated his removal know the real motive behind their action, Adewusi said “It should be the responsibility of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to explain the reasons for the replacement and not for anyone, either in the media or other channels, to help him with insinuations to justify the replacement.”
He said there are established agencies of government saddled with responsibilities of investigating financial sharp practices.
“When it comes to allegation of fraud, however, there are relevant agencies of government saddled with investigating and establishing such allegation.
“I make bold to say that I have conducted myself above board.”
Adewusi said for him at the moment, silence remains golden until those who should tell the world why he was removed have the courage to face members of the public.
He said, “For now, I choose to remain silent on the buildup of events of the last two months or more leading to this stage, to allow the appropriate authorities, if they so decide, to officially make public the reasons for the replacement.”
He said while he led the postal agency, he gave his best to revive NIPOST.
“It is not my intention to join issues with anyone, I make bold to say that I gave my best to NIPOST, my God-given talent which I had used in even bigger responsibilities in the past. I was saddled with a dying horse.
“I brought, upon my assumption of office, innovative ideas that could bail NIPOST out in line with the modern, best global practices. I approached the assignment with the required patriotic zeal, to keep afloat one of the undoutedtly sinking national institutions in our country.”
Adewusi said it is a tragedy that there are forces bent on ensuring the final death of one of the agencies of the government which could have contributed to the creation of jobs.
He concluded in his statement, “It is however a tragedy that some forces are bent on seeing to the final burial of agencies which, if revamped, could add value to the national economy, create more jobs, and be primed to compete with their pairs in other parts of the world.”
Adewusi, an Economist and academic, was appointed in December 2019 as the Postmaster General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, NIPOST by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He had served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State under the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu, current presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress.