Jibodu, ex-Rector Ogun State Poly, decries claims of missing certificates by politicians

A former Rector of Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Chief (Dr) Kehinde O. Jibodu, has expressed dismay at the reports of politicians, who are not able to present the originals of their academic certificates.

Dr Jibodu, a Knight of John Wesley, Methodist Church Nigeria, said he was appalled by media reports that some presidential candidates presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) affidavits, as against the original copies of their academic qualifications.

The octogenarian, author of several publications including two autobiographies – ‘Looking Back in Time’ and ‘My Life’s Journey, Memoir in Pictures’ – described claims of missing certificates by politicians, who aspire to lead the country at the highest level, as irritating.

The erudite scholar told RELIABLESOURCENG.COM that he had been able to preserve his own academic records for 68 years and will be willing to share his experience with politicians and others alike, who are incapable of doing so, at a free workshop.

He said: “If you can reach INEC and those of my country people who are not capable of preserving records including certificates, let them know that you know somebody in his 80s who kept originals of all his certificates for 68 years, and vital documents of his children till they are of age.

“That I am still alive, hale and hearty.

“That I am willing to mount a workshop free of charge on how to avoid or prevent this irritating subject of ‘missing vital documents’.

“May God deliver careless, carefree, visionless Nigerians.”

READ: Tinubu to INEC, unknown persons stole my academic certificates

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM reports that the media has been replete with stories of some politicians who could not submit copies of their academic certificates as proof of their qualifications to run for public offices.

Notable among this group of politicians are the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kabiru Masari, both of who claimed in their submissions to INEC that their certificates were either “looted” or “lost”.

Tinubu, in an affidavit he submitted to INEC recounted how he discovered upon returning from self-exile, from October 1994 to October 1998, that his “property including all the documents relating to my qualification and my certificates in respect of paragraph 3, above, were looted by unknown persons.”

Masari on his part swore: “Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, male, Muslim, Nigerian citizen of Abubakar Rimi Crescent, National Assembly Quarters, Apo, FCT– Abuja, declare an oath and state as follows:

“That I am the above-named persons and bonafide owner of the under-listed documents. That sometimes in January 2021, while on transit within Wuse Area, FCT– Abuja, I discovered that my original Certificate of Occupancy of plot NoKT 17522, GRA Katsina Estate; Certificate of Kaduna State Development Centre from 1994-95; Grade 11 Certificate from Katsina Teachers College from 1979-83 and First Leaving School Certificate issued by Masari Primary School Katsina State from 1972-78 got lost. That all efforts made to trace the documents proved abortive hence this affidavit. That this affidavit is required for record purpose and for all authorities and persons concerned to take note.”