Nigeria is a special country
where ‘everything’ (good, bad and the ugly) happens. Every day comes with
special news. Currently one of the major news hovering around Nigeria political
space is allegation and counter allegation surrounding academic credentials of
current Minister of Aviation Princes Stella Oduah. This is a total unacceptable
display of shame to the administration of President Jonathan so called
transparent style of governance.
Stella Oduah recently indicted by
House of Assembly on allegation concerning misappropriation of fund of the
Aviation Ministry and was asked to resign to enable free and fair investigation
into the matter (though she refused to resign) has once again taken the centre
stage in an allegation of academic certificate forgery. She was earlier found guilty by House of
Representative on issue surrounding scandalous spending of Aviation Ministry
fund on luxury cars in the tune of N255 million. However though that issue
looks like it has been ‘swept under the carpet’ as usual with such cases in
Nigeria, it has been alleged by Sahara Reporters that academic certificates she
presented was forged.
My problem is that even if
President Jonathan cannot do much concerning proactive fight against
corruption, it is expected that he should have openly disassociated himself
from such people by relieving her her duty to give room for robust
investigation into the matter. No one is bigger than Nigeria and therefore
Nigeria’s image should be one of the major priorities of the government.
Last week reports emerged that
certificates of current Aviation Minister were forged. Though it may well be
rumour or lies, however reports and evidence supporting the news are yet to be
countered. First she claimed to have obtained an MBA from a school that has
never had a Masters Degree programme, and to have obtained it same time she was
serving in the National Youth Service Corp in Nigeria. The question now is: was
she serving in Nigeria and at same time doing her MBA in the United States? As
you ponder on the above question, you may not be surprise that there is another
allegation that suggest that the institution that she claimed to have obtained
her PhD is not in existence.
Are these allegation ranging from
fraud to forgery of certificate not enough for the Federal Executive Council to
take appropriate action to redeem the already dent image of Nigeria? How can we
tell the world that we are fighting corruption when the supposed leaders have series
of corruption cases hanging on their neck? Is it not time we start to do things
right? What example are our current leaders setting for future ones? God help
us.
