The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed disgust over President Bola Tinubu’s refusal to remove his Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji.
Nnaji is said to have got his ministerial position with allegedly forged Degree Certificate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an equally forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Monday, said the party was not surprised that President Tinubu has continued to keep Nnaji in his cabinet, despite the overwhelming evidence indicting the minister.
The authorities in both the University of Nigeria and the NYSC, have openly disowned the certificates the Minister presented to secure his appointment, stating that the documents did not emanate from them.
The ADC described the Tinubu government’s silence on the alleged forgery as proof of its ample tolerance for corruption of all kinds.
The party said it’s a great disservice to the country, which has many qualified citizens of competence and integrity, to have at the head of a ministry meant to drive innovation “a man tainted with such dubious credentials.”
The opposition party added that it’s not surprised that the errant Minister is sitting pretty in office, despite mounting evidence, public outrage and the Minister’s own admittance of the alleged forgery,
The ADC said, “We note that this is not an isolated case. The APC government has had a long, public, and familiar record of certificate-related scandals and questionable academic claims among top officials.
“These recurring scandals and the persistent stench of certificate forgery are indeed reflective of a party that is foundationally accommodating of deceit and clearly unbothered by basic ethical considerations.
“Credible public reports have revealed that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have officially disowned the certificates Mr. Nnaji submitted for his ministerial appointment.
“Even more disturbing are his own court filings admitting that UNN never issued him any degree certificate.
“At this point, the question that every Nigerian is asking is simple: if the Minister is not honourable enough to resign, why is the Tinubu administration still keeping him in office?
“By refusing to act, the Tinubu government and the APC are admitting their complicity in such fraudulent conduct at the highest levels of their government, and making a mockery of their claims to fighting corruption.
“On our part, the ADC believes that the very credibility of any governance begins with the integrity of the people elected or appointed to run it. Nigerians cannot be expected to trust a government that is populated by people who have lied under oath about their qualifications.
“In this particular instance, a ministry whose mandate is to drive innovation, research, and the advancement of knowledge is now tainted by the dubious credentials of the man that President Tinubu has found fit to serve.
“This is deeply unfortunate, but also reflective of the moral compass of this APC government and its scant regard for both integrity and knowledge acquisition.
“Our country is blessed with competent and qualified minds in all fields of human endeavour, both at home and across the world; brilliant minds who have earned their place through hard work, integrity, and excellence. Yet this APC government could only find suitable for appointment to such a strategic ministry, or any ministry at all, a man whose claim to higher education has now been brought to question.”
The party called for the immediate suspension of Minister Nnaji pending a full independent investigation, adding that if found guilty, he should not only be dismissed with ignominy, but he should also face full prosecution for forgery and perjury.
The ADC asserted that certificate forgery is a crime, not a clerical error, and if proven, it must attract the full weight of the law.
“The longer the Tinubu government delays action, the clearer it becomes that integrity and accountability have no place in its leadership consideration.
“Both the Senate and the DSS that undertake the responsibility of vetting nominees into high positions in government must also accept vicarious liability and seize this as an invitation to review their vetting process.
“A Senate that has obliged itself unreservedly to the will of the President is liable to fail in its duty to the people,” the party added.
