Former governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, has asked Nigerians to give the suspended minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Betta Edu, a second chance.
Edu, who was on Monday, January 8, suspended by President Bola Tinubu, is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over payment of public funds into a private account.
The former Lagos deputy governor in a statement on Wednesday, January 10, said: “I first met Betta when she was introduced to me as a candidate for Women Leader of our party in Abuja in early 2022. Shortly after, she was in Lagos on a courtesy visit and I immediately liked her style, her carriage and comportment.
She exuded confidence, was articulate, knew what she wanted and appeared to me as focused, determined and ambitious. She later won the election and became the Party’s Women Leader.
Betta worked very hard during the campaign. She was everywhere mobilizing women, campaiged with the Presidential Campaign team all over the country, and attended most of the events.
We have all read about her wrongdoings and her suspension by the President and questioning by the EFCC.
This is as it should be. I hope and pray that at the end of the day, she would have learned a hard lesson on how to conduct herself as a public officer and navigate the banana peels in the corridors of power.
Betta Edu is like a daughter to me and I feel really sorry for her for the mess she finds herself in. I asked myself what if she’s my daughter? Would I disown her? She’s a promising bright star who could have served this nation in higher capacities.
To us critics and commentators, I get it that we are genuinely shocked and angry as to the level of malfeasance we are witnessing in public service, but be aware that we should rather learn from her mistakes rather than laugh at her. What happened to her could have happened to many of us whether by omission or commission.”
