By Daniel Obasohan
The least expected controversy about Mr Godwin Obaseki, the All
Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the September 10 governorship
election in Edo State was the one about his educational qualification. But
out of the blue, it broke that he had deposed to an affidavit that the
original copies of not one but all of his educational certificates,
including his NYSC certificate, are missing. What he could therefore
tender as the proof of having attended the schools he claimed were
photocopies of the lost original documents.
Incredulous as this may sound, it is not improbable. However, the level of
its acceptance would be largely dependent on the circumstance of the
reported occurrence. It is not unusual to have all such documents
destroyed or lost in incidents of inferno, extreme flooding, ghastly motor
accidents or armed robbery, of which development must be promptly reported
to the police.However in the present case, Obaseki claims that he lost his
certificates in the course of his changing offices. By this statement he
has established the fact that he knows how and when the certificates got
lost. The question that arises is, did he report to the police and when
and where? Whereas his office is in Lagos and he lives in Benin City
presently, he obtained an affidavit from a High Court in Abuja on June 7,
2016.
Ordinarily, a man losing his certificates would not make the headlines or
stir public interest; but when it involves a governorship candidate in an
election who, by law, is expected to put up the evidence of his admitted
qualifications for public scrutiny, there is bound to be suspicion about
the claim. Thus, Godwin Obaseki’s unexpected revelation has left a scent
of suspicion. Even his very recent claim that the originals have now been
found in his house in the United States also raises suspicion and a whiff
of incredulity. Unless and until he makes public the original documents,
it will be difficult to erase the impression of possible perjury that has
been created in the minds of people.
Back to the development before his very recent claim that the documents
have been found in the US, his party, the APC, and his supporters have
rallied round him in defence saying that it was possible he really lost
the certificates. Yes it is possible to have lost them, but then it is
possible that it could be convenient for him to have lost them.
Some others say it was not in doubt that he is educated and went to the
institutions he claims. The more arrogant ones have challenged his
opponents to go to court if not satisfied with the claim in the affidavit.
One cannot but agree that Godwin Obaseki is an educated man and there is
no doubt that he went to the schools he claims. However, being smart or
intelligent is no proof of having sat for a particular examination. The
proof of it is the certificate which comes in the name of the bearer and
particulars of the examination and which on no account could be altered.
It is to guard against getting away with altering the particulars of the
certificate that makes possessing the original copies which may be
required for verification, a sine qua non. Whereas the photocopy is an
indication of how the original looks, it is no foolproof evidence of how
it is. Therefore, losing the original could be a way to conveniently
conceal material facts, and anyone could be excused suspecting Godwin
Obaseki of this until he can sufficiently prove otherwise.
The issue of challenging the opposition to go to court should be a line of
defence by Obaseki’s party and his supporters. The weakness of our
statutes or legal instruments should not be the basis for the privileged
and the powerful to circumvent the law or due process. It has not been a
good commentary how the issues of disputed certificates of elected
officials, particularly of the ruling party have been resolved. The
accuser of President Muhammadu Buhari was obviously frustrated to withdraw
the case against him. The celebrated Primary School Leaving Certificate
scandal of Governor Adams Oshiomhole is a study in unfathomable judicial
discretion. In the layman’s court, instead of patronizing rigmarole as the
court did, Oshiomhole would simply have been asked to show his Primary
School Leaving Certificate. Instead, the case was struck out. And the part
of the State Ministry of Education, which was presumed to hold evidence or
otherwise of Oshiomhole’s certificate got burnt with every single
document. It is this confidence that Obaseki’s supporters have that they
can tell the opponents to “go to court or go to hell”.
The depressing thought of the unbelievable outcomes of previous cases in
court should not be a deterrent to would-be litigants if they feel a legal
option can be explored to get at the facts. However, the onus of removing
reasonable doubt at this material time is on Godwin Obaseki. In the event
that he is unable to discharge this responsibility, the public,
particularly the voting Edo public should reflect deeply on whether he can
be trusted. We cannot be unmindful of the fact that Obaseki has a prior
shadow of doubt as to how trustworthy he is. First was the issue of
whether he is not an archetype of the bloodline that would pose a threat
to the dignity of the Benin Royal Throne. The second has to do with the
unresolved accusation of a breach of trust by the Idisi family of Delta
State…. In any case, the kernel of this matter is that of trust. Given
that not much is known to Edo people of Godwin Obaseki, should he be
trusted as to vote him the governor of Edo State?
Mr Obasohan sent this piece from Benin City.