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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has berated President Bola Tinubu for merely accepting the resignation of the former Minister of Science and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, who was accused of certificate forgery.
The party, in a statement by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday, said Nigerians are aware that the case of Nnaji is not an isolated incident in the APC.
The former Minister of Science and Innovation had embattled following allegations that he forged his first degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
President Bola Tinubu accepted his resignation on Tuesday.
However, ADC said it was disappointing that President Tinubu merely accepted Nnaji’s resignation rather than taking a tougher measure against him.
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“The ADC believes that the decision of President Tinubu to merely accept the offending former minister’s resignation instead of taking a tougher stance gives the unfortunate impression that the President is sympathetic to such behaviour.
“We are equally appalled that the Minister was allowed to quietly resign after publicly admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions. This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that dishonesty carries no consequence in public life.
“It is imperative to reiterate that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officially disowned the certificates Mr. Nnaji presented for his ministerial appointment, while court filings by Nnaji himsef confirmed that UNN never awarded him any degree certificate. “In this regard, by simply accepting his resignation, President Tinubu has shown that for whatever reason, his administration is willing to let corrupt officials off the hook easily and he is not willing to set an example for those who serve under him that dishonesty has serious consequences.”
The opposition party accused the APC of offering refuge to people of questionable character, and alleged that the ruling party has turned dishonesty to an identity.
“From one certificate scandal to another, Nigerians have watched the APC turn dishonesty into an identity, offering sanctuary to people with questionable integrity and forgers. Indeed, if the President cannot act firmly in a case that was this clear, how can Nigerians trust his government to fight corruption in any other form?
“As a party, we therefore call on relevant law enforcement agencies to pursue an independent investigation into the matter, noting that resignation does not erase criminal liability. Forgery is not a private offence, it is a crime. If found guilty, Mr. Nnaji should be prosecuted in accordance with the law. Anything less will amount to a cover-up,” the ADC stated.
