Certificate forgery: Dishonesty from ‘top’ spreading to ministers – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate, has called for a decisive action against certificate forgers. His call follows the shocking expose on Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji’s fake certificate.

Nnaji had presented himself as a graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but the university disclaimed him, as per the expose by investigative news platform, Premium Times. The medium unearthed Nnaji’s counterfeited university degree. In the report, the UNN confirmed that, though, Nnaji attended school, he however did not complete his course of study.

Reacting to the incident, Obi, in his veiled statement on X, stated the severity of the crime called for equally severe punishments for culprits. He suggested that aspirants for political office as well as appointed officials, first, must declare their academic qualifications, which the relevant bodies must vet within 90 days.

“We must deal with certificate forgery holistically with the seriousness and level of criminality it deserves,” Obi wrote.

“…When dishonesty starts from the top, it spreads to every level of governance, just like it’s happening now.”

“We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power. True leadership must begin with truth,” he stated.

Cornet Newsreported that the presidential hopeful, Obi, attempted the presidency as a running mate to former vice president Abubakar Atiku. He would later quit the Peoples Democratic Party to run as the flagbearer of the Labour Party, losing to incumbent President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.