Certificate Forgery: Concerned Public Servants Urge Aiyedatiwa to Address the State

Public servants in Ondo State under the auspices of Concerned Ondo Public Servants (COPS) have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to address the people of the state over the controversies surrounding his certificate.

The public servants said the allegation of certificate forgery against the Governor is an embarrassing situation that undermines the pride of the Sunshine State.

The group in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Segun Aderibigbe emphasised that Governor Aiyedatiwa has a responsibility to the people of the state to openly confront and resolve this issue once and for all.

They draw attention to past instances where politicians faced similar challenges and took proactive measures to address them.

“For instance, during Governor Godwin Obaseki’s political campaign, his opponent, led by Williams Edobor, accused him of certificate forgery. In response, Obaseki swiftly wrote to the University of Ibadan, his alma mater, to authenticate his academic record. The university promptly confirmed the authenticity of his results, thereby validating his claims.

“Likewise, during the 2023 Presidential Election Tribunal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu encountered a similar challenge. His alma mater, Chicago State University in the United States, unequivocally verified his attendance, which dispelled any doubts regarding his credentials.

“Now, in Ondo State, a comparable controversy has arisen. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stands accused of forging his West African Examination Council (WAEC) result, which he submitted during the 2020 governorship election as the running mate to the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN,” they explained.

The public servants expressed their expectation for Governor Aiyedatiwa to follow the precedent set by others in similar circumstances to clear his name.

They express disappointment at the mere press statement issued by the police spokesperson in an attempt to discredit a certified police report indicating discrepancies in Aiyedatiwa’s certificates.

“If Aiyedatiwa wishes to refute this forgery allegation, he should follow Obaseki’s approach by requesting WAEC to authenticate his result and visiting Ikosi High School to confirm his attendance, similar to how Chicago State University confirmed President Tinubu’s attendance.

“While the WAEC result being circulated raises concerns due to the governor’s poor performance in a state known for its high number of professors and educated individuals, we urge the governor to address the issue of certificate forgery and provide clarity.

“As public servants, we are constantly being embarrassed by our colleagues from other states. Our ego and pride have been affected, and we believe it is time for the governor to come forward and address the state. Enough is enough,” the group concluded.