Group alleges certificate forgery against Governor Aiyedatiwa

A pressure group in Ondo State known as Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI), has raised the alarm over Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa academic qualifications, warning the ruling All Progressives Congress to beware of his political aspiration.

Penpushing reports that the body which claimed to be a social-political group raised the allegation on Monday, as political gladiators and parties prepare for the Governorship primaries scheduled for April in the State.

The Governor’s spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniya, in a swift reaction said that after failing in their attempts to paint Aiyedatiwa in bad light with stories around the death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the actors have resorted to blackmail.

Penpushing further reports that Adeniya in a statement described the allegations as a blackmail attempt adding that it was a mischievous plan by some political actors to embark on fresh unsubstantiated allegations against the Governor.

“The first of such is to use faceless groups and individuals to make allegations of certificate forgery against the Governor. A governorship aspirant last night held a meeting with some individuals at a popular hotel in Akure where he gave the directive to those present to write stories alleging that the Governor used forged certificates to contest an election. It is important to alert members of the public to this plot, aimed at discrediting Mr Governor ahead of the coming governorship election in the State,” Mr Adeniyan stated.

Penpushing also reports that he added that Aiyedatiwa contested on a joint ticket with his former principal in the 2020 governorship election, recalling that his credentials were duly submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which are in the public domain.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor contended that any attempt to raise allegations around the Governor’s credentials must be a plot by those who failed in their efforts to impeach him when he was Deputy Governor.

Penpushing reports that the group, however in a statement by its President, Adebayo Ogunsanmi, Jide Oriola(Secretary), and  Sunday Ayeni(Publicity Secretary) alleged that  Aiyedatiwa’s educational claims were fraudulent,arguing that his resume indicates that he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan in 2001.

The social-political group as claimed, however asserted that after investigation, it found that such a diploma was not available at the University of Ibadan in 2001, adding that while scrutinising the Governor’s academic records, it was discovered that his educational journey commenced at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School in Obe Nla/Obe Adun, Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, from 1970 to 1976.

Penpushing further reports that the group pointed out that the Governor pursued his secondary education at Ikosi High School in Ketu, Lagos State, completing it in 1982, noting that in 1986, he (Aiyedatiwa) achieved his Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government at Lagos State College of Education (now known as Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education) located in Ijanikin, Lagos.

‘He claimed to have earned an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan in 2001, after which he claimed to have become an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, situated in Lekki, Lagos, though year and course of study were not included’, the group said.

‘He further claimed to have obtained a Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management, after which he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool in the UK, in 2013’, the statement added

Penpushing also reports that the group however, insisted that the Governor’s academic records were false and advised the  All Progressives Congress(APC) not to field a candidate with questionable academic records.

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