Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has slammed presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, over his claim that a public servant can carry out other legitimate business while in office.
Newsonline reports that Oby Ezekwesili said the former vice president of Nigeri a was wrong and wants to mislead Nigerians.
Atiku Abubakar, on Arise TV interview stated that it is not unconstitutional for a public servant to have legitimate business while in office.
Reacting to Atiku’s statement, Oby Ezekwesili refuted the former vice president, stating that public servants are only allowed to engage in farming while in office.
Ezekwesili said, “The former VP was dead wrong!
“The only business permitted a public servant under the Nigerian Constitution is Farming.”
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Maintaining that “Conflict of Interest breeds Corruption”, Ezekwesili cited, Part I, Fifth Schedule, Section of 2 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides that “without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, a public officer shall not, except where he is not employed on full-time basis engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade, but nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his media team are yet to respond to the former minister’s statement.
Recall that Oby Ezekwesili was Minister of Education of Nigeria (2006–2007), Federal Minister of Solid Minerals, Nigeria (2005–2006), under ex-president Obasanjo regime; at a time Atiku Abubakar was Nigeria vice president.
