Commissioner Nominee in Certificate Scam. May be Dropped

 A commissioner nominee whose name was forwarded alongside four others to the State House of Assembly on the 7th of October 2013 by the State Governor , Chief Godswill Akpabio, CON for screening and subsequent clearance has been found to be involved in certificate forgery and racketeering.

The said nominee who stood under oath before the Honorable Members was said to have been among the students dismissed from the University of Uyo in the 2002 cleanup exercise by the Prof. Akpan H. Ekpo led-administration against certificate racketeering.

During the screening session which was made available to Akwa Ibom Online, it was discovered that the Law Certificate presented by the nominee and issued by the University of Uyo dated 20th September 2005, showed discrepancies in the signatures of the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akaneren I. Essien and that of the then Registrar, Mr. Peter Effiong.

A lawmaker who was dismayed by the development asserted that Prof. Essien assumed office as Vice Chancellor in December of 2005, he could not have possibly signed a certificate that predates his tenure in office.

Also in question was the nominee's inability to provide the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) exemption/discharge certificate as stipulated in the nation's constitution for prospective public office holders and employees, admitting under oath, "That at any point of need of the said National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Exemption Certificate, I shall refer to the University Records Department."

A lawyer who commented on this development, revealed that it was a criminal offence punishable by 12 Months imprisonment or a fine of N2000, or both fine and imprisonment for anyone who refuses to make himself available for service in the service corps continuously for one year.

While referring to Section 12 (1) (a) and (b) as well as Section 13 (1) (b) of the NYSC Decree (1993) as enshrined in Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), said both the culprit and anyone who aids in the illegal act deserves to go to jail.

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A Call To Nationhood

For 53 long years we have searched for el dorado; born on the wings of hope we have toiled, fought and sacrificed much to see the dream of a great Nigeria become reality.

We have born the lashes of injustice, witnessed the imprisonment of equity and wept at the glorification of lawlessness. I do not deny that this has been our experience, but though we be saddled with many a burden, we are still here; battered but not dead, sick but alive, broken but hopeful.

These were not the dreams of our fathers but we are here. Yes we are still here!!!

On a day like this I salute the courage and dexterity of our founding fathers and I call ode to the spirit of what they lived for; Justice, Tolerance, Equity and Fairness. I also attest to the dogged determination and will to survive of the average Nigerian youth.

Dear friends, brothers and sisters, today presents another opportunity for reflection. We must remember the words of the spanish essayist, novelist and poet George Santayana who said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

If we are were we are because of the actions or inaction of the past, then we must appraise ourselves. The future of our individual and common destiny called Nigeria is dependent on this.

Let us together forge a new path for Nigeria by living out the words of our anthem "to serve with heart and might" when no one is looking and when it is not convenient. This is our Nation, this is our future, this is our destiny.

Long live you and I and may we serve ourselves until the day we go join our ancestors; that when our day is done we may say boldly...."We gave our all, we fought for justice and we lived in Truth"

And as such let us take pride in our national anthem, a symbol of our unity and progress, learn the words, sing them to our kids and over our nation.

God bless you and God bless Nigeria!!!.......

Ojugo Onyelukachukwu (Ojay)
National Secretary, PDP Youth Circuit

For 53 long

We have born the lashes of injustice, witnessed the imprisonment of equity and wept at the glorification of lawlessness. I do not deny that this has been our experience, but though we be saddled with many a burden, we are still here; battered but not dead, sick but alive, broken but hopeful.

These were not the dreams of our fathers but we are here. Yes we are still here!!!

On a day like this I salute the courage and dexterity of our founding fathers and I call ode to the spirit of what they lived for; Justice, Tolerance, Equity and Fairness. I also attest to the dogged determination and will to survive of the average Nigerian youth.

Dear friends, brothers and sisters, today presents another opportunity for reflection. We must remember the words of the spanish essayist, novelist and poet George Santayana who said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

If we are were we are because of the actions or inaction of the past, then we must appraise ourselves. The future of our individual and common destiny called Nigeria is dependent on this.

Let us together forge a new path for Nigeria by living out the words of our anthem "to serve with heart and might" when no one is looking and when it is not convenient. This is our Nation, this is our future, this is our destiny.

Long live you and I and may we serve ourselves until the day we go join our ancestors; that when our day is done we may say boldly...."We gave our all, we fought for justice and we lived in Truth"

And as such let us take pride in our national anthem, a symbol of our unity and progress, learn the words, sing them to our kids and over our nation.

God bless you and God bless Nigeria!!!.......

Ojugo Onyelukachukwu (Ojay)
National Secretary, PDP Youth Circuit
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