Alleged certificate scandal: Group, Aiyedatiwa trade words in Ondo

The Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI) and the deputy governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have traded words over a recent alarm raised by the group over allegation of certificate forgery.

While the group accused the governor of producing fake certificate, Ayedatiwa through his Chief Press Secretary, (CPS) Ebenezer Adeniyan, described the allegation as a plot to discredit him ahead of the next governorship election in the state.

The group through its president, Adebayo Ogunsanmi and the Secretary, Jide Oriola, alleged that educational credentials of the governor was suspect.

According to the group, “Aiyedatiwa, in his resume, claimed to have acquired an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan in 2001.

“However, checks have proved that an Advanced diploma in business administration was not available at the University of Ibadan as of 2001.

“According to his academic records, Aiyedatiwa’s educational journey began at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School in Obe Nla/Obe Adun, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State, where he attended from 1970 to 1976. He then pursued his secondary education at Ikosi High School in Ketu, Lagos, completing it in 1982.

“In 1986, 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.

“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 group said all the academic records were not only false but untrue, warning the APC leaders against fielding a candidate with questionable academic records.

But the governor’s CPS, Adeniyan in a statement issued, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the mischievous plans by some political actors to embark on fresh unsubstantiated allegations against the Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“After failing woefully in their attempts to paint the governor in bad light with the stories around the death of the former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, these desperate elements have resorted to blackmail.

“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 election.

“It is important to alert members of the public to this plot which is aimed at discrediting Mr Governor ahead of the governorship election in the state.

“Mr Governor contested on a joint ticket with his former principal in the 2020 governorship election and his credentials were duly submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and they are in public domain.

“Any attempt to raise allegations around the credentials of Mr Governor is nothing but a plot out of the playbook of those who failed in their efforts to impeach him when he was deputy governor.

“Mr. Governor remains committed to delivering on his promises to develop Ondo state and will not be distracted by the shenanigans of shameless politicians and their cronies.”