The former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi, has expressed his concerns about the integrity of Nigerian leaders who engage in certificate forgery. Speaking in an interview on Arise TV, Obi stated that leaders who manipulate their academic records are essentially living a falsified life.
In Obi’s opinion, academic qualifications should not be the sole criteria for leadership positions. However, he emphasized the importance of leaders being honest about their qualifications and personal history. He added that there are numerous examples of past and present world leaders who may not have had high academic qualifications, but were transparent about their background.
“The issue at hand is leaders making honest and truthful statements and actions. It is a matter of honor and integrity, which lays the foundation for building a strong society,” Obi stated.
Obi further highlighted the prevalence of certificate forgery, age falsification, and other forms of deceit among leaders in Nigeria. He noted that such acts only serve to undermine their ability to make sound decisions and effectively govern.
“When leaders engage in such practices, it implies that they are living a false life,” Obi explained.
He also cited examples of great individuals in the world who did not have formal education but went on to achieve greatness. One notable example he mentioned was Abraham Lincoln, widely regarded as one of America’s greatest presidents. Despite coming from a poor background and having no formal education, Lincoln did not need to fabricate his qualifications to earn respect and admiration.
“We should not have leaders who claim to possess degrees they do not have, thereby raising doubts about the credibility of our nation,” Obi asserted.
Obi concluded by emphasizing that greatness does not solely depend on academic degrees, but rather on the character and honesty of a person. He stressed the need for leaders to be honorable and transparent about their past.
Currently, several governors, lawmakers, and even the President of Nigeria are embroiled in legal battles over discrepancies in their academic records, further highlighting the prevalence of certificate forgery in Nigerian politics.
