My credentials are real. Aiyedatiwa tells APC committee

The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has responded to the recent accusation of forging of an academic diploma by stating his credentials are authentic to the All Progressives Congress screening committee for the state’s approaching governorship race.

The governor made this announcement on Friday, the day before the APC’s governorship primary, which is scheduled for April 20, when he was the first candidate to be approved by the screening committee.

The governor, who purchased the party’s N50 million governorship nomination forms, has been engaged in a political battle on the party’s platform in the state with a few other contenders, including Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Mr. Mayowa Akinfolarin, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), Mr. Gbenga Edema, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.

After a lawyer named Oladotun Hassan wrote a petition to the Police Service Commission and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, claiming that a high-ranking official was going to alter the findings of an ongoing investigation into the governor’s academic credentials, the dispute had revolved around his credentials.

But addressing journalists at the APC national secretariat after his screening on Friday, Aiyedatiwa said, “Screening is one of the processes aspirants have to go through. Mine has just been done this morning and all documents that were submitted have to be verified and questions asked where some are not too clear to the screening committee. Questions were asked and answered.

“At the end of the day, I have been cleared, especially on the issue that has to do with my certificate that a petition was written. Today, that has been put to rest. My certificates are genuine and authentic.

“I think it is a kind of mischief by some aspirants who see me as the man to beat and had to look for a way to discredit my person. Today, it has been verified and put to rest.”

Aiyedatiwa claims that Lateef Jakande, the governor of Lagos at the time, was forced to combine some schools—especially those impacted by flooding—with the Ikosi High School, where he had attended.

“As a student of history, you will recall that in 1989 when Lateef Jakande became governor of Lagos State private schools were taken over. Schools were built for the communities. And Ikosi High School that I attended is one of those schools built by the government of Lateef Jakande.

“So, it is on record that the school was established in 1980 and at that time, I was already in Form three in a private school, New Nation, in Ikosi while Royal Comprehensive High School is in Ajegunle Ikorudu, very close to Ketu,” he added.

However, in response to the screening, another candidate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, made fun of the governor while showcasing his full academic record and giving his credentials to media.

Ibrahim claimed that the governor was merely attempting to reenter Government House on the strength of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s ticket and a few endorsements from the State House of Assembly.

He said, “As you can see, all my credentials and certificates are complete. What has Aiyedatiwa achieved? He was just a pair to Aketi. We didn’t vote for him. It was Aketi we voted for. But I can assure you, the governor is a huge joker. He can’t continue in government with his P8 and P7 (alleged grades). The governor will be out of that place by the time we finish the APC primary next week. He is gone and there is nothing he can do about it.

“I don’t normally go against people. Left alone to me, clear everybody and let them go for primary. Let the electorate decide. I have won the election as senator. I won in six of the six local governments, 65 of the 66 wards, and bagged 111,677 votes as against Agboola Ajayi’s 60,000 votes.

The state’s twelve recently appointed commissioners were sworn in by Governor Aiyedatiwa, who also tasked them with handling their different ministries with diligence.

The state House of Assembly received the names of the 12 aides from the governor earlier for review and approval. Following the state Assembly’s acceptance of their nominees, they were sworn in.