ONE WORD ON MELAYE’S CERTIFICATE CONUNDRUM
The last time I checked, the Nigeria’s eight
National Assembly – particularly its Red Chamber – had been characterized by
series of distractions, that, any observer could insinuate that all is not well
with the country’s current polity. One of the distractions emanated from the
recent allegation leveled against the Member representing Kogi West Senatorial
District, Mr. Dino Melaye by the online news outfit Sahara Reporters, stating
that the senator never graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria,
Kaduna State as claimed by the legislator.
It’s pertinent to acknowledge that Sen.
Melaye’s political career hasn’t been spared of various controversies cum
accusations. Sometime ago, it was alleged that he continued to operate a
checking and savings account with a US-based bank, in violation of Nigeria’s
extant law. It’s noteworthy that the Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau prohibits
the use of foreign accounts by elected and public officials. Melaye criticized
the former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for ‘importing his
wife’ rather than marrying a Nigerian woman. Sometime penultimate year, he
threatened to beat up one of his female colleagues Sen. Oluremi Tinubu on the
floor of the Senate.
Sen.
Melaye’s claims not only did he graduate legitimately from ABU, but had
successfully earned seven degrees from various other institutions across the
globe to include the revered Harvard’s University Kennedy School for
Educational Leadership, and the London School of Economics and Political
Science (LSE); a claim that had been refuted by both institutions, with the
former alleging that Melaye only presented himself for a week-long professional
development course in late 2016, whilst LSE alleged there was no evidence on
its database that the lawmaker ever obtained any degree from the institution.
Regarding
that of ABU, Sen. Melaye was cleared by the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the
university Prof. Ibrahim Garba who appeared before the Senate Committee on
Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Monday 27th March 2017,
to confirm that the embattled senator graduated from the institution, though
under a different name ‘Daniel Jonah Melaye’. There are intriguing factors that
ought to be closely considered towards clearing all elements of suspicion.
It
was disclosed by Prof. Garba that Sen. Melaye graduated from ABU but with a
different name, which implies that he was enrolled into the university with a
name he is not currently bearing. Since the lawmaker had testified at the floor
of the Senate that he once had a change of name, we need to inquire from him
what actually informed the decision. Also, Melaye reportedly secured admission
with only three credit passes as against five credit passes usually required by
virtually every institution of higher learning ab initio. Although he had refuted
the allegation, claiming he had up to five credit passes, I think it would be
wise to consult the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for onward
clarification.
It
was equally gathered that Sen. Melaye underwent his National Youth Service in
1999 whereas record has it that he had his first degree in 2000. This implies
that he did his NYSC programme prior to his graduation. How do we reconcile
this? It is saddening that the VC didn’t use the occasion to throw more light
on this complication. Maybe the Senate Committee equally needs to invite the
NYSC for clarifications.
These things have to be well explained
by all concerned towards quenching some lingering doubts completely. Besides,
was the VC in better position to appear before the Senate Committee than the
Registrar of the university? We are strongly not unaware that issues pertaining
to admission procurement as well as graduation have to do with Office of the
Registrar, thus I saw no reason the VC chose to hold brief for the University’s
Registrar.
However, I’m of the view that it’s high
time authorities in Nigeria stopped attaching so much importance and relevance
to a mere paper qualification. A certificate does not in any way guarantees
one’s competence and reliability; rather, what he/she has upstairs. Paper
qualification should only be seen as a means of identification, and not a
symbol for the bearer’s ability or prowess.
Believing so much in certificates has
been the sole reason several Nigerians have resorted to indulging in all sorts
of social-vices, including examination malpractices, admission racketeering,
impersonation, forgery, and what have you, in order to acquire a degree certificate,
thereby unleashing mockery and disgust on the country’s polity. I want to state
unequivocally that several of our present public servants never visited the
four-walls of any higher citadel of learning let alone obtaining a degree
certificate, which they purportedly have in their respective possessions.
In view of this, it’s only Sen. Dino Melaye’s
‘course mates’ that can prove to Nigerians beyond doubts that the legislator
truly attended as well as graduated from ABU, among the other institutions he
claim attendance. Meanwhile, now that Sen. Ali Ndume who supported the
blown whistle had been outrightly suspended by the Senate, thereby making him
share similar fate with Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin of the lower chamber, what next?
Think about it!
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