By Atoyebi Nike
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has cautioned that certificate forgery among public officials could normalise crime and undermine Nigeria’s moral fabric. He made the remarks on Monday in response to revelations that Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, admitted in court that he never received a university degree.
An investigative report revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, disowned the Bachelor of Science certificate held by Nnaji. The institution stated he did not complete his studies and was never issued a certificate. In reaction, the minister reportedly filed a suit against the education authorities and the university.
Obi criticised Nigeria’s institutions for failing to act decisively on forgery allegations. He argued that public officials who should model integrity are instead “the very source of the nation’s decay.” In Indonesia, he noted, forged qualifications lead to immediate disqualification and prosecution. By contrast, Nigerian electoral bodies and courts often dismiss such matters as “pre-election issues.”
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to start verifying academic certificates of all political aspirants six months before the 2027 general elections. Obi also recommended that all credentials be made public for 90 days to allow scrutiny.
“This process must also apply to appointed officials, Ministers and aides, because when dishonesty starts from the top, it spreads to every level of governance,” he said. “Criminal offences should not be dismissed as a mere procedural matter. We must end the era where forgery and deceit are rewarded with power. True leadership must begin with truth.”
