Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has warned Nigerians against lowering standards for public office holders by accepting unverified academic credentials.
Obi issued the warning in a statement on Tuesday titled “By making excuses for unverified certificates, we are planting poison in the soul of our society,”
The opposition leader argued that society’s response to questions surrounding academic qualifications should not be influenced by political affiliations or personal interests.
He warned that making excuses for questionable or unverified certificates could weaken accountability and encourage a culture where standards are compromised, particularly in leadership.
Obi stressed that academic credentials are not merely documents but part of the standards expected of individuals entrusted with public responsibilities.
According to him, accepting unverified qualifications risks sending the wrong message to young Nigerians who are expected to pursue education honestly and earn their credentials legitimately.
He maintained that Nigeria needs to strengthen its culture of accountability by demanding transparency from people seeking positions of leadership.
