- Safiu Kehinde
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zaach Adedeji, has disclosed how President Bola Tinubu’s economic team was established and started working long before he gained the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) 2023 Presidential ticket.
Adedeji made the disclosure while speaking at an event held on Sunday in celebration of the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele.
Recounting how he met Oyedele during his programme at the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), the FIRS boss disclosed how he lured Oyedele into Tinubu’s shadow economic team led by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
The team was, according to Adedeji, created before Tinubu secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential ticket for the 2023 General election.
“My boss (Wale Edun) used to be the head of the shadow economic team for the incoming government. That is one year before we even had the ticket. We used to meet in his house where he will coordinate us that in the next one year when we have ticket, what are we going to do?
“And from that day after meeting honourable Minister at home, I will leave and go to Landmark to go and see the partner that what of if you are doing this thing- trying to sound him out.
“But thank God. When Mr. President appointed him without even considering the future and the past. he sacrificed all he has and said the best way to do this job is to resign.
“He said he does not want conflict of interest and this is what we all dreamt of and there is no bigger sacrifice. I know that, not only Nigeria, but Mr. President really appreciate you sacrifice.
“And as you can see, that is one of the reasons they gave you all free hands with your team members to make sure you do the best.” Adedeji said.
Prior to that, the FIRS boss recounted how Oyedele lectured him during his ICAN programme.
“I know the celebrant roughly going to 25 years ago when I was student. I was writing my professional examination one in ICAN when I was in part two in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). I came to Lagos to write the exam.
“I thought I was brilliant until when I met him. We were to write accounting standard then, not international accounting standard as we have it today. It was Statement of Accounting Standard and we have only 21 SAS then.
“I tried to memorise 10 with the power of Bible and fellowship. Someone strolled to our class and he said the lecture we have today is SAS and he taught us that day from SAS1 to 21 without opening any book and without missing anything. So, then I said whether you like it or not, you will be my friend.” He said.