Keyamo’s NYSC discharge certificate tweet stirs controversy
A tweet by the Minister of State for Labour and a spokesperson of Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Mr Festus Keyamo showing offf his old photo with fellow National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members has sparked fresh debate over whether the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu did the mandatory national service or not.
Keyamo @fkeyamo ruffled the hornet’s nest when he tweeted “#50 years of NYSC. Can you spot yours truly here?”. He did the tweet together with an old photo of himself and eight other fellow corpers then in their NYSC uniform. The post made by the SAN on Sunday indirectly stirred enquiries about his boss’ (Tinubu’s) own NYSC photographs and discharge certificate.
Young Nigerians have risen with calls on Tinubu to produce his NYSC discharge if he did not evade national service or else face prosecution. Few years ago, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun resigned her position to avoid prosecution when it was discovered that she not only evaded the compulsory national service but went further to forge an NYSC discharge certificate.
All Nigerian citizens who graduated from tertiary institutions in the country or abroad and were not more than 30 years upon graduation are required to undergo one year NYSC service to qualify for election or appointment into public positions. Among such offices are those of president, governor and minister.
Mr Tinubu who claims to have been born in the year 1952 also claims to have graduated from University of Chicago in 1979. This means that he graduated at the age of 27 and was eligible for the mandatory national service after leaving the university.
“Where is Tinubu’s own?”, Alakowe @alakowee asked him in a tweet. June12Posts Nuclear Powered @June12Post tweeted:
“… Festus, Tinubu @officialABAT says he was born in 1952, & earned his degree at Chicago State University in 1979. This means he was 27 years old upon graduation. This also means he was supposed to do his NYSC. @officialnyscng Festus could u please post Agbado’s nysc photo or certificate here…”
Ruth Adeboye @RuthAdeboye2 tweeted, “But pictures suppose dey na”.
Obiekwe @obiekwe32947133 cynically tweeted: “There was no NYSC then. Nigeria was being governed by the British by that time. U don forget jus na?”
SOJ @iamokama1 “…kindly ask your principal to share his own NYSC pictures please. The group of concerned Nigerians want to check something. “
“Tinubu do NYSC?”, Yahaya Aliyu @ The Final Rabbi asked.
“Please give us Bola Tinubu own”, Omo Ilorin @Ahmzzygrafix asked.
“Show us tinubu NYSC pic and we might consider withdrawing our petition”, @ jaywaurld