Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI), a social-political organization, charged Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor of Ondo State, with forging his diploma on Monday, calling him unfit to hold office.
Sunday Ayeni, the publicity secretary, Jide Oriola, the president, and Pastor Adebayo Ogunsanmi issued a statement on behalf of the group saying that Aiyedatiwa’s educational claims have been shown to be false.
The group claims that Aiyedatiwa’s resume shows that he graduated from the University of Ibadan in 2001 with an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration. But according to their study, the University of Ibadan did not provide such a credential in 2001.
Aiyedatiwa’s academic records were produced by the organization, which indicated that he started his schooling from 1970 to 1976 at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School in Obe Nla/Obe Adun, Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State. He finished his secondary education in 1982 at Ketu, Lagos State’s Ikosi High School.
At Lagos State College of Education, which is currently called Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and is situated in Ijanikin, Lagos, Aiyedatiwa earned his Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government in 1986.
The group presented Aiyedatiwa’s academic records, stating that his educational journey commenced at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School in Obe Nla/Obe Adun, Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, from 1970 to 1976. He pursued his secondary education at Ikosi High School in Ketu, Lagos State, 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 said that he graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan in 2001. He then said that, although the year and course of study were not specified, he was a graduate of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, which is located in Lekki, Lagos.
In addition, he stated that in 2013 he graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom and a Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management.
The group forwarded a warning to the APC leaders not to submit a candidate whose academic record is in doubt, claiming that these records were false.
Reacting, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the allegation as another “plot out of the playbook of those who failed in their efforts to impeach him when he was Deputy Governor. ”
Speaking through his chief press secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa said, “After failing woefully with their attempts to paint the Governor in bad light with the stories around the death of the former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, these disparate elements have resorted to blackmail.”
He continued, “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, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“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 the election.
“It is important to alert members of the public to this plot which is aimed at discrediting Mr. Governor ahead of the coming governorship election in the State.
“Mr. Governor contested in 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 those are in the 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.”
