BY MOYINOLUWA BAMIDELE-LUCAS
The immediate past Postmaster General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Postal Service, Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, has said that he conducted himself above board until his hasty removal two months ago.
In a statement signed by him on Sunday, Adewusi said the appointment or replacement of a public official, if all due processes had been adhered to, should ordinarily not be a surprise.
However, he said it should be the responsibility of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy (Isa Ali Pantami) to explain the reasons for his replacement and not for anyone, either in the media or other channels, to help him with insinuations to justify the replacement.
“When it comes to allegations of fraud, however, there are relevant agencies of government saddled with investigating and establishing such allegations. I am bold to say that I have conducted myself above board,” he said.
Adewusi said he was compelled to make the statement on the ground that some desperate attempts were being made to link his 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.
“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. When it comes to allegations of fraud, however, there are relevant agencies of government saddled with investigating and establishing such allegations.”
For now, Adewusi said he would 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.
“While 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 undoubtedly sinking national institutions in our country.
“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 regretted.
Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of a new Postmaster General/Chief Executive Officer for the Nigerian Postal Service, Adepoju Sunday.
This was according to a statement on Wednesday by the spokesperson to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Uwa Suleiman.
In the statement, it was noted that the appointment was based on the recommendation of the minister, Isa Pantami.
The statement read in part, “The new Postmaster General of NIPOST, Hon. Adepoju Adeyemi Sunday, is appointed for an initial term of five years.”
The statement added that Adepoju is a professional accountant and a former member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2011 – 2015 and 2015 – 2019, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency.
Earlier, it was reported that the Federal Government, through the Communications Minister had approved the appointment of Bulus Yakubu as acting Postmaster General of the Federation/CEO, NIPOST.
This was following the suspension of Adewusi, who was appointed in 2019.
