Headline

Bola Tinubu: The Scandals That Won’t Go Away

Published

11 months ago

October 8, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It’s been 24 years since the scandal involving Nigeria’s incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, hit the media space, and tried as both the President and his co-travellers have, the stigma has just refused to go away. In fact, recent happenings point to the fact that the scandal might never go away except certain simple steps, which may appear humongous to Tinubu and his supporters, are taken.

It is the hitherto alleged certificate forgery scandal that has trailed Tinubu like a second skin. The matter has remained a case of the more you search, the more dirty skeletons are revealed, making it imperative to ask if the now proven forgery scandal will ever go away.

The matter is being unraveled at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Earlier in 1999, renowned legal luminary, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, raised the alarm that Tinubu, then elected governor of Lagos State, submitted forged documents to enable his participation in the election, which he eventually won. Within a short period of time, Fawehinmi granted interviews to two popular media outfits, Newswatch and The Source. In both occasions he alleged that Tinubu was a criminal, who needs to vacate office. Both magazines screamed the damning names on their covers, drawing attention of Nigerians to the fraud. Fawehinmi, however, was not able to prove the forgery allegation.

But veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, in his Pendulum, titled The Truth Tinubu Must Be Told, and published on Saturday, October 7, 2023, provided insight to what might have transpired. He wrote:

“…One of them, extremely close to Tinubu, was the first to tell us about “the falsification of Tinubu’s age, the identity of his original parents from Iragbiji, his forged academic records”, and so on. This chain-smoker claimed absolute knowledge of Tinubu’s life. He told us in my Accra home that anyone who tells Tinubu the truth is instantly marked down as an enemy, so he has stopped telling him the truth. With this kind of mindset, you can imagine what quality of advice Tinubu gets regularly.

“Then, out of the blues, my very daring and loyal friend, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, decided to bite the bullet on behalf of Tinubu. What he did was reminiscent of the “lamb of God who took away the sins of the earth…” He, like a kamikaze soldier, took absolute responsibility for the errors contained in Tinubu’s files. Miraculously, Tinubu was saved, and we were all relieved. Everyone is asking me how has Tinubu compensated Afikuyomi, and my answer is I don’t know.”

But in 2005, while Tinubu was racing home in his second four years tenure, the matter resurrected. This time through Festus Keyamo, who petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly, alleging that Tinubu submitted forged documents, and so should be impeached. Today, the same Keyamo is holding brief for Tinubu, and defending the same documents even as Chicago State University, the supposed school the papers emanated from, has disowned the papers.

While the matter seems to die down thereafter, the ghost hovered dangerous, awaiting a suitable time to unleash. That time came with the 2023 presidential election. Tinubu has picked his party’s ticket so easily that a cross section of Nigerians believed he bought his way through. He also submitted the same documents that has raised eyebrows since 1999. This prompted Momodu to ask “Why would a man who left office since 2007, 16 long years ago, fail to clean up the records that nearly got him impeached in the first instance? And given the fact that he couldn’t have personally handled those documents himself, why did the hordes of minions claiming to love him till eternity fail to deliver a world-class file for his documents?”

The answer could be that the cup was full, and nemesis was about catching up with criminal elements.

Tinubu’s victory at the elections rooted out many questions that have since defied answers. These include Tinubu’s parentage, early schools attended, real names, attendance at some of the schools he mentioned, work history and of course, the originality of the certificate he has been parading as belonging to Chicago State University. With the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, seeking fruitless reprieve at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku resorted to the American court, seeking a release of Tinubu’s academic records to prove his case.

There was every indication afterwards that the certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a forgery as Chicago State University’s Registrar, Caleb Westberg, has testified under oath that the replacement certificate the President submitted to INEC is not a document of the university.

Westberg’s testimony took place during a deposition following the ruling by Judge Nancy Maldonado, which authorized the release of Bola Tinubu’s records at Chicago State University. During the deposition, Westberg stated that the logo on the replacement certificate is not recognized by the institution.

Westberg, who joined Chicago State University in November 2020 from Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, said, as per a report, that President Tinubu’s certificate, dated June 22, 1979, and tendered to INEC on June 17, 2022, was not issued by the school and its administrators could, therefore, not be able to authenticate its source.

Westberg also said during the deposition that President Tinubu did not apply for a replacement certificate, nor was he ever issued one.

The deposition process lasted for more than five hours and concluded at approximately 9:30 pm Nigerian time on October 5, 2023.

The action was part of the ongoing legal challenge by the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting the election of President Tinubu based on allegations of non-qualification due to document forgery.

CSU had long insisted that President Tinubu was its student, entering in 1977 and graduating in 1979, but its inability to authenticate the certificate the former Lagos State governor submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission would ripple across Nigeria and the world for the foreseeable future, just as the full transcript of the deposition, which was highly anticipated by those following the case closely, both in Nigeria and abroad, has been made public.

Earlier, President Tinubu had refused to release the records, claiming it would cause ‘irreparable damage’ to his person. He went ahead to seek the nod from three Appeal courts, which turned down his request. He therefore, had to reluctantly allow a federal judge in the United States to give his university certificate to his political opponent, Atiku Abubakar.

He also pleaded with Judge Nancy Maldonado to block all other details, especially the gender, and admission records, among others, of the person who owns the certificate from being disclosed, raising more questions of who the actual owners of the certificate is.

Tinubu’s acceptance that his certificate could be released came after he narrowly escaped full disclosure on September 21 by pleading severe harm to his life in order to obtain a stay of a magistrate judge’s order on September 19.

“There is harm in allowing discovery on issues and documents outside the diploma,” Mr Tinubu’s lawyers said in their full briefing to the court seeking a review of Judge Jeffrey Gilbert’s order by Ms Maldonado, a district judge.

The identity of who was admitted into Chicago State University in the 1970s has been a hot issue after college transcripts emerged that indicated the school admitted a female Bola Tinubu from Southwest College Chicago in 1977.

“Is the diploma authentic or is it a forgery? My client can’t answer yes to either of those questions,” Hayes said at the hearing in Chicago that began at about 1:30pm and lasted several hours in the lawsuit brought by Atiku Abubakar, Tinubu’s main challenger during the February 25 presidential election.

Hayes was responding to the judge’s inquiry into the school’s ability to confirm under oath that Tinubu was issued the certificate he tendered to Nigeria’s electoral office as part of his final eligibility paperwork in June 2022.

According to an audio of the proceeding obtained by SaharaReporters, the lawyer said, “So, that deposition is compiled with my client here and the issue is; was the June 22nd 1997 diploma that President Tinubu submitted as evidence in Nigeria and offered to the election agency there.. Is that authentic? My client can say we don’t know and we do not have his actual diploma to compare it to what we don’t have; whatever diploma issued in 1997 we can certainly verify the team information on that diploma and the date of his graduation which by the way is on his transcript that is in the public proceedings already.

“So there’s no question June 22nd 1997 was his actual date of graduation but beyond that and with the sideshow of this copy diploma is now being raised where the date was because of mistake made and whoever ordered it and whenever they ordered it a mistake was made; other than that, my client doesn’t have anything to say about these issues and all of these student records.”

BRIEF BACKGROUND

On June 17, 2022, Tinubu submitted a certificate to INEC that was purportedly issued in 1979 and signed by Elnora Daniel. But Ms Daniel only arrived at CSU in 1998 from Hampton University, 19 years after Tinubu was said to have graduated. She then left the school in 2008 following a financial mismanagement scandal, or 14 years before June 2022 when CSU issued yet a fresh certificate in Tinubu’s name under subpoena from a Nigerian lawyer who had inquired about Tinubu’s education there.

The jarring contradictions, among others, caused Abubakar to file the suit to compel CSU to produce records relating to Tinubu and make its top officials available for deposition to certify the produced records.

A lot of reactions have trailed the release of the academic records and the deposition that followed. While the Tinubu cp believe that the President has done no wrong, most Nigerians are calling for the president’s resignation or sack from office having committed an offence. Nigerians have also gone down memory lane to dig up instances that should warrant the vacation of office by the president. Everyone believes that the president’s action is inimical to the healthy growth and development of the nation, and likely to reduce her importance among comity of friends with within the continent, sub-region and the in global politics.

In his reaction, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), called on members of the international community, especially the EU, US, UK and ECOWAS to prevail on Tinubu to vacate office over the inglorious certificate forgery.

He argued that though authorities of the Chicago State University (CSU) had agreed under oath that a certain person named “Bola A. Tinubu” attended the school but has denied issuing the diploma Certificate he, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu that contested elections in Nigeria presented to INEC that is purported to have been issued by the school.

He added that “The CSU documents revealed fake admission entry results used by a certain Bola A. Tinubu, with a GCE purportedly obtained from Government College Lagos 1970 and South West College Illinois. The former was not in existence in 1970 but established in 1974 and the latter certificate in the United States contains particulars of a female including her Social Security Number.”

Frank further outlined as follows: “Nigerians will recall that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu that contested elections in Nigeria has social security number in the documents of his Narcotics conviction in Chicago which are at variance and materially different from those presented by CSU belonging to the Bola A Tinubu that attended CSU. Is it therefore possible for a U.S Resident or citizen to have two social security numbers?

Date of birth conflict: The CSU transcripts also carries as date of birth the date, 29 March 1954. Tinubu’s submission to INEC is 29 March 1952. This clearly shows that he lied to INEC under oath (Perjury) by the authority of the CSU papers.

Hence the pre-requisite admission documents submitted to CSU by the said Tinubu that attended their institution, contains information at variance with those presented to INEC by the Bola Tinubu that contested Elections in Nigeria at various times, indicating serial events of forgery and dishonesty both in Nigeria and abroad.”

He therefore, echoed Nigerians submission that by the revelation that Tinubu apparently forged the certificate presented to INEC, he is constitutionally not fit to remain as President of Nigeria.

“Now that it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Tinubu forged the certificate with which he contested the Presidential election in February 25, 2023, he is duty bound to vacate office as provided for in section 137(1)(j) of the constitution which stipulates that no one would be legitimately elected as President of Nigeria if the person has “presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Meanwhile, Atiku has approached the Supreme Court with his findings, seeking the apex Court’s approval to tender the fresh evidence.

The documents, which Atiku sought to tender are Tinubu’s academic records, which were handed over to him by Chicago State University (CSU) on Monday, October 2, 2023.

The 32-page documents were released to the former Vice President on the orders of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America (USA).

Atiku, through his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), reminded the Apex Court that “the presentation of a forged certificate to INEC by a candidate for election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a weighty constitutional matter, requiring consideration by the Courts as custodians of the Constitution”.

Uche stated that the original certified deposition has been forwarded to the Supreme Court in a letter addressed to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.

In a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed in support of the appeal numbered SC/CV/935/2023 with petition number CA/PEPC/05/2023, the deponent, one Uyi Giwa-Osagie, a legal practitioner, stated that the certificate Tinubu presented to INEC in support of his qualification to contest the presidential election was tendered in evidence at the trial and marked as Exhibit PBD1B, and a copy of the same is annexed herein as Exhibit “E”.

Nigerians believe that for these scandals to go away, Tinubu has to own up, come clean of whatever misdeeds he is accused of and apologize to Nigerians. Otherwise, this ghost of a scandal will linger for much longer time.

Headline

The World Celebrates Chief Gabriel Igbinedion at 90

Published

13 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It was that time of the year again when the world gathers in their numbers in the ancient city of Okada and Benin to celebrate a man of immense achievement.

The town of Okada and the beautiful city of Benin were agog one more time as the month of September approached. It was the birth month of one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs the Nigerian nation has ever produced. It was the birthday of the Esama of Benin and pioneer patriarch of the Okada Dynasty, Chief (Sir) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion CFR, CON, KSJI, who clinched the nonagenarian trophy in grand style.

As always, the ebullient community leader, meticulous mentor and businessman extraordinaire left no stone unturned to treat himself to the best entertainment, drawing the who is whos in politics, entrepreneurship, entertainment and religion to the grand events making his 90th birthday.

Again, the Esama used the occasion of his birthday to centre all eyes on him, and did not hesitate to take up the opportunity to create another sizzling razzmatazz in hosting dignitaries and providing top notch treats; the type that would not only be mouthed, but proclaimed from the mountain tops for a long time to come.

According to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, “Judging by the mammoth crowd that came to celebrate the occasion, his (Igbinedion) legacy in history is assured.”

It was a carnival-like event that ran a month long with preparations and activities that told a tale of a great man, gathering people of different class and creed from all parts of the world to celebrate the great Esama of Benin Kingdom.

A philanthropist of no mean repute, business mogul, and politician, Chief Igbinedion pulled all stop to ensure that this year’s celebration tagged “Jubilation”, and drawn from the Bible book of Psalms 126:3 sustains the carnival-like identity it has always been known for, while reflecting on testimonies of his numerous achievements in life.

With wholesome lineup of activities, the birthday celebrations held in various locations including his Benin palatial home and the prestigious Archangel Gabriel Catholic Church, along Sapele Road, where a thanksgiving mass was held.

Among the earliest callers at the Igbinedion residence were members of the governing council of the Igbinedion University, where notable officials took turns to eulogised the pacesetter of private universities in Nigeria. Among the officials present were the Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof Sheik Ahmed Abdulla, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, and the Chief Medical Director, IUCH, Dr Yau Abubakar Garawa.

Kicking off the activities as the occasion dovetailed into a weeklong event, on September 10, the residence of the Esama of Benin, who is also the Honorary Romania Consul to Edo and Delta States, became a beehive of activities with celebrations as different groups including the Igbaboleme Dancers under the aegis of Esan Congress led by Goodluck Imonite, St John the Army Catholic Church led by Rev Alfred Agbolahor, and Parishers of St. Jude’s Catholic Church led by Very Rev Father Paul Edegware, entertained the Esama and his visitors who came from far to be part of his birthday celebration.

As always, the celebrant Chief Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, was accompanied by his wife, Lady Cherry Igbinedion, his son and former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and his siblings, a retinue of members of the Igbinedion Dynasty among other dignitaries arrived the Archangel Gabriel Catholic Church, to a warm reception by the members of the Church community with band parade, in a distinct ceremony tagged “The Early Morning Dew”

The birthday celebration began with Service of Praise and Thanksgiving at St Gabriel, The Archangel Catholic Church, Sapele Road, where adoration was offered unto the Creator as coordinated by the Rev. Fr. Augustine Ehigie and church officials.

During the conventional Mass, which has become a tradition in the House of Igbinedion, the guest speaker, and President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Israel Akanji, preached a sermon encouraging all and sundry to live their lives, and have the mindset of a child.

“The childlike spirit must not die; the spirit must remain, and if there is a challenge for our papa at 90, the challenge is that even in old age, you are to continue with the heart of a child,” Akanji said.

Also praying for the nonagenarian, a former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafo, lauded his philanthropic gestures, and declared that heaven will recompense him.

“As you have identified with everyone, heaven will always identify with you. May God increase you on every side,” he said.

Tom Amekhianam of the Christ Embassy also offered prayers for the latest member of the nonagenarian club, asking for more of God’s wisdom and honour upon him and his family.

Speaking on behalf of the family in response to all the prayers and goodwill showered on Chief Igbinedion, the son of the celebrant, Mike Igbinedion thank guests and well wishers as well as appreciate the celebrant for being a father in deed.

Dignitaries that attended the Mass were the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, prominent religious and traditional leaders, high profile politicians and High Commissioners and Representatives of High Commissions so from over 15 countries.

It was a total conglomeration of the best of Nigerians in respect of a man who has given more than enough to the economic, industrial, political, academic and social development of Nigeria.

Also in attendance were the traditional rulers and title holders from the Benin Kingdom.

The highpoint of the event was the thanksgiving procession by Chief Igbinedion and his immediate family members, amid soulful renditions from the Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish choir.

Speaking on behalf of some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion the representative of the South African High Commission in Nigeria and the Representative of the King of Ashanti, Ghana among others, described the celebrant as a Man who has added value to the lives of many.

Guests at the birthday thanksgiving Mass were later hosted to a lavish reception at tastefully decorated country home of the Esama of Benin Kingdom where music was supplied by a host of upcoming artists, live band, cultural troupes among others.

The colorful event was rounded off with the cutting of the 90th birthday cake of the Esama of Benin Kingdom His Excellency Chief Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, surrounded by members of his family siblings and selected dignitaries.

The event reception which was held at the residence of this unequivocally brilliant mind witnessed a potpourri of the nation’s high and mighty as they trooped out in their numbers to appreciate the goodness of the creator upon his praise-worthy life.

Wishing the Esama a life where he will never mourn the death of any of his children, HRM Oba Oyetunde Olumiluwa Ojo, Ogunbodun I Olono of Ada, Osun State, assured him of longer life and more fruitful living.

Also the Enogie of Ukhiri, HRH (Barr) Godwin Aigbe described the celebrant as a legend at 90, just as a daughter of the House of Igbinedion and former First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Eki Igbinedion showered encomium, describing as a gift to his generation.

In her word, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales, thanked the Esama for being a worthy personality and a human being with a face.

The reception was another form of banquet, coming with all the trappings a superiority. The crowd was unprecedented with security agencies of different creed mounted at various corners. One would not be wrong if they call the event a fantasy brought to reality. Everyone who was someone was either present or represented.

It was reported that over 22 food and beverage vendors were busy with different local, African and intercontinental cuisines and beverages, attending to the large crowd of audience as the grand reception swept way into the night.

Among special personalities that were present at the well attended banquet were past and present governors, politicians and industrialists. Some of them were former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Constitutional Lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah; former governor of Imo state, Chief Achike Udenwa, former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo; former governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori; former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna and former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke.

Others were ING Nana Poku Aygeman, who represented the King of Ashanti, Ghana, High Commissioners of South Africa to Nigeria, Tami Mseluku, Engr Elvis Obaseki of ITV and Radio, E. J. Agbonayinma of APC, former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, and Labour Party governorship for Edo State, Barr Olumide Akpata, who was a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The family also set aside a day for all those born in the House of Igbinedion to meet, fratenise and bond with one another. Members of the family from.across the world including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and more were present. They sang, made merry and cut a huge birthday cake in honour of the patriarch.

Mabel Amadin, who spoke on behalf of the children of Igbinedion said that ‘my father’s tentacles have gone worldwide’, and it was only natural that all the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren use the opportunity of his 90th birthday to reignite their brotherhood.

The weeklong grand ceremonies rounded off with a thanksgiving service at the Saint Gabriel the Archangel Church, where dignitaries also trooped out in their numbers to thank God for His mercies, and for seeing the family and friends through the activities.

In another development, a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar,Ed many other dignitaries to pay homage to the nonagenarian, describing him as a rare breed that can only be seen once in a century. In his entourage were the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, former Chief of Defence Statf, General Martin Luther Agwai, who prayed that God will continue to keep Chief Igbinedion so that humanity will continue to tap from his wealth and well of knowledge.

The highpoint of the 90th birthday celebration was the special visit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates, led by former Vice President and Waziri Adamawa, who was the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to pay homage to the Esama.

In their various speeches, the former Vice President and the host Governor, Obaseki, praised the Esama for his laudable contributions to the Nigerian nation and his philanthropic gestures to all and sundry, wishing him a happy birthday and many happy returns.

They delegates supported the celebrant in cutting his birthday cake in the presence of his wife, Cherry Igbinedion, and conducted by the former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke.

The members present were the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, former governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; former governor of Bayelsa, Senator Seriake Dickson; former governor of Cross River State, Leyel Imoke, Chief Ben Obi, High Chief Tom Ikimi, Edo Deputy Governor, Marvelous Omobayo; former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Osun State governor, Senator Adeleke, who displayed his singing and dancing talents while wishing the Esama a happy birthday.

Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion was born on September 11, 1934, and has been a beacon of entrepreneurial excellence since he embraced career trajectory. He is known to have pioneered many Enterprises including the first to own a private airline; Okada Air and private university; Igbinedion University.

From all us on The Boss Newpaper, we wish the Esama a glorious 90th birthday, and many more healthy years in view.

Headline

Edo Election: Police Acting in Interest of APC, Says Obaseki

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2024

Eric

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called out the Nigerian Police Force, saying they are working in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the buildup to the 2024 Edo Governorship Election. He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the Peace Accord for the September 21 election.

The accord is an official agreement among political parties to be of good conduct before, during and after election.

Obaseki said the agency, the Police, responsible for enforcing the accord, have through their actions, shown that they are acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.

He expressed worry that “the Police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains, who they perceived would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.”

The governor who spoke when he received the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar said those arrested include a serving Local Government chairman, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.

He stated that the party chieftains were arrested and whisked to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Obaseki queried: “how do one enters a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset has shown bias in favour of one of the parties in the election.”

He added: “you are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020 and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-circle election and there is a lot of attention.

“Unlike 2020, I am very worried with the developments in the State today. The party met yesterday and we might not likely sign this agreement.

“The opposition party in the State, the APC has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election, but however promised to use Federal might to determine the outcome of the election.”

He added: “We thought it’s just rhetoric. But in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where from the office of the IGP, armed gang policemen have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.”

Headline

Ighodalo Ridicules APC’s Okpebholo, Says Edo Can’t Risk Having Illiterate As Governor

Published

6 days ago

September 11, 2024

Eric

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has advised the electorate against voting an illiterate as the next governor.

Making a veiled reference to the gaffe by the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship hopeful, while addressing a crowd on Monday, said: “Edo doesn’t need an illiterate who will bring insecurity to the state”.

Ighodalo, who spoke at the Olua Primary School field, Uselu, venue of the PDP campaign rally in the Egor Local Government Area, pledged to bring out the best in the youth by harnessing their potential in a positive way for the good of all.

He said: “We will work and bring out the creative potential of our youths in a way that will benefit all. We don’t need an illiterate who will bring insecurity.

“It’s time to move forward. Ogie (his running mate) and I are very ready to work for you all. So, don’t fear, don’t worry, we’re for you all. Prosperity has come for all. Just go out on the 21st and vote early and protect your votes.”

Also speaking, Governor Godwin Obaseki said he had done his best for the state and that Ighodalo and Ogie would continue when he hands over to them.

He added: “I have done my best. Ighodalo and Ogie will continue from 12 November. We want progress. We want to move forward and not backward. Looking at the people here, you see a lot of youths. I am not surprised because Egor is home to youths. We have the University of Benin and the Benin Technical College.