Certificate Forgery: Dr. Ugorji Calls On Minister Uche Nnaji To Resign ~By Vivian Iwu

The immediate past Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs in Imo State, Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji, has called on the Nigerian Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Nnaji, to resign without further delay.

Dr. Ugorji made the call in light of the recent report that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has denied ever issuing a diploma or certificate to the Minister.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and leader in Aboh Mbaise LGA, Ugorji asked Mr. Nnaji to save the APC-led national government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu further embarrassment by tendering his resignation to the president.

I am disappointed that he is still there, if the reported story is true,” Ugorji stated.

“There has to be a return in this country of ours to the days when academic credentials are earned and respected,” Ugorji said.

According to him, “it is one thing to claim false credentials for personal aggrandizement at social gatherings.

“But it is an entirely different thing to sit in an appointed and exalted position of minister in the Federal cabinet, having reportedly admitted to possession of false credentials.”

Dr. Ugorji went on to make a distinction between false credentials by an elected politician and false credentials by an appointed administrator.

“The courts and the electorate are the ultimate punishers of an elected politician who claims false credentials.

“However, an appointed minister serves at the pleasure of the president.

“There is no need to wait until the next election to do justice to this matter,” Ugorji said

Ugorji said that the call for the minister’s resignation is not one he makes lightly as a member of the APC.

“We (the APC) are the ruling party. We have to insist on sending messages about integrity in public office.

“It is particularly stunning to have someone heading the academically sensitive Ministry of Science and Technology with such a self-inflicted embarrassing situation.”

Dr. Ugorji also called on Nnaji “to apologize to the President and to the Nigerian people for such faux pas.”

Asked if the Minister should be prosecuted for alleged forgery, the pioneer Commissioner in charge of Homeland Security in Imo State said he would leave that to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.