Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, disagreed with his aides on the need to publish his university degree certificate.
The former Anambra State Governor turned down the request by his media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, to publish his Bachelor of Arts degree certificate in Philosophy (Second Class Division) he obtained from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1984, as according to the former Anambra State governor “The possession of paper qualification is not and cannot become the measure of wisdom and intelligence”.
Obienyem had on several occasions advised his boss that it is necessary for him to public the certificate so as to lay to rest the public debate concerning whether he attended a university and obtained any legitimate degree certificate or not.
But Obi who did not consider the issue as necessary replied “Val, to me, education is the progressive discovery of our ignorance. We learn every day. The possession of of paper qualification is not, and cannot become the measure of wisdom and intelligence.
“When people debate what I graduated with, ignore them. To allow yourself before fixated on such inane discourse is to imply that you do not have better things to do”, the LP presidential hopeful had stated further.
Nonetheless, Obienyem advised “But I have always had a different view. Simple publication, not for the sake of debate, but, to clear all doubts, especially among those that are deceived “.
Obi’s degree certificate in Philosophy obtained from the UNN was eventually made public by Obienyem with the backing of another top aide of Obi, former senior official of the United Nations and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate during 2017 Anambra state governorship election, Hon. Oseloka Obaze.
Obaze had told Obienyem to publish Obi’s degree certificate following the debate generated again around it after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, published names of presidential candidates for the coming 2023 general election few days ago.
“Val, go on and publish (Obi’s degree certificate). If anything arises, tell him (Obi) that I authorised . We need not appease mischief makers, but to clear all doubts among all men and women of goodwill who are genuinely concerned”, Obaze explained.
The degree certificate circulating online showed that Obi obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy (Second Class Division) in 1984 from UNN.
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