Gov. Ibrahim Idris forged his School Results and so what?

 

What is this fuss about Governor Ibrahim Idris and his forged school certificate? Did I just hear that he forged the certificate to enable him contest the governorship election of Kogi State in 2003 and 2007? What is news about this? When has certificate forgery become an offence in this country? Please I should not be quoted out of context here. I am not saying that it is not an offence to forge certificates for whatever purpose. But it is certainly not a crime in Nigeria to do so. Or can anyone tell me when any officeholder loses his position for a mere offence of certificate forgery?

 

Do not remind me of Salisu Buhari, the former Speaker of the House of Representative. I know all about that. I still remember how he had to vacate the speakership position because of his certificate scandal. But that was before we realize that what Salisu did does not constitute an offence. Can anyone out there tell me who has been affected by certificate scandal besides Salisu? I can still remember that so many public officials have been involved in this scandal and nothing, I repeat, nothing happened as if it to say ‘ride on guys you are on track’.

 

The late Senate President, Evan, or is it Evans Ewerem was once caught in the web of the scandal. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was involved. Lately, Masari, Andy Uba, Professor Maurice Iwu, Patricia Etteh etc were all fingered in the certificate scandal. Who among these highly placed was punished for submitting Oluwole certificate to secure lucrative appointment or elective position? Why must my own governor be treated differently? Even if he is carpenter, is he not a citizen of Nigeria like the others mentioned above?

 

As long as we ride on this thing called selective justice, this country will find it difficult to prosper. Obanikoro is an Ambassador designate today even though we read that he forged his certificate. Of what use was the Senate screening when people like Onanikoro could be cleared despite the scandal? Is what is sauce for the gander no longer sauce for the goose? Please my Governor should be spared the time of facing the travails at the election tribunal instead of distracting his attention over trivial issue of certificate forgery.  

 

It is high time we do a rethink on what we want as a nation. Are we ready to sincerely move ahead or do we still want to operate the way we have been doing things? Without any point of contradiction, some of our so called elected officials in the Senate, House of Representative, and State House of Assembly etc are still parading fake results. I stand to be challenged on this. But since it is nobody’s duty to check on this thing, we shall continue to have Oluwole certificate officeholders until Armageddon.

 

Governor Ibrahim Idris’s case is even far better than some of these people. As it is, Idris is said to have used his son’s certificate. At least the certificate and the school exist. It’s just that the Governor of the Confluence State impersonated his son. Is his case not better than those forged certificates that do not exist? Once again, my Governor should be left alone. If Lamidi Adedibu and Fredrick Fasheun were ready to protect their corrupt daughter in the person of Patricia Etteh, we Kogites are ready to protect our erring Governor too, pronto.   

 

 

 

Mohammed Ali Jnr.

Plot 225, Golf Course Close

Ungwar Rimi Road

Kaduna