Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has welcomed legitimate public scrutiny of his academic credentials, saying he has no objection to the release of his educational records.
Obi made this known in a statement following reports circulating on social media about a legal action by an individual or group seeking Certified True Copies (CTCs) of his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, awarded by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in 1984, as well as other records relating to his admission and studies.
He said he had no objection to UNN making his academic certificates, records and other official documents available upon legitimate request and within the limits permitted by law. He similarly gave consent to other educational institutions he attended, within and outside Nigeria, to release his academic records in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
Obi said transparency and accountability were particularly important for individuals seeking public office, stressing that public scrutiny must be fair, lawful and applied consistently to all presidential candidates.
“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications, and record,” he said.
He added that anyone seeking the highest office in the country should be prepared to undergo reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate through both words and actions that they had nothing to conceal from the people they sought to serve.
Obi also challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for legitimate public scrutiny, arguing that such disclosure should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability and rebuild trust in political leadership.
He maintained that leadership must reflect the values Nigerians expect in the society they seek to build, including transparency, integrity, accountability and respect for institutions.
“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” Obi stated.
The full statement is published below…
No Objection to Legitimate Scrutiny of My Certificates
My attention has been drawn to reports circulating on social media concerning a legal action by an individual or group seeking Certified True Copies (CTCs) of my Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, awarded to me in 1984 by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as well as other academic records and credentials relating to my admission into the University.
I wish to state clearly that I have absolutely no objection to the release of these records.
I respectfully request that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, within the limits permitted by law, make available, upon legitimate request, my academic certificates, records, and other official documents relating to my admission and studies at the University. I equally have no objection to other educational institutions, within and outside Nigeria, which I attended, making my academic records available in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
I believe strongly in transparency and accountability, particularly for those who seek the privilege of public office. Public scrutiny must, however, be fair, lawful, and applied consistently to everyone who seeks to lead our nation.
As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications, and record. I am prepared to subject myself to the level of scrutiny that should reasonably be expected of anyone seeking the highest office in our country. Those who seek to lead must be willing to demonstrate, through both their words and actions, that they have nothing to conceal from the people they aspire to serve.
In that same spirit, I encourage every presidential candidate to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for legitimate public scrutiny. Doing so should not be regarded as an inconvenience or an attack. Rather, it is an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability, and rebuild the trust of Nigerians in those who seek to govern them.
Leadership must reflect the values we expect from the society we hope to build. If we desire a Nigeria founded on transparency, integrity, accountability, and respect for institutions, those values must begin with those who seek to lead it.
I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
