By Vincent Mgbeji
NDC presidential candidate challenges scrutiny over
academic history and alleged foreign files
Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi
has challenged anyone with concerns about his background to release his official
records, including academic documents and files that may exist outside Nigeria.
Obi spoke during an interview with 90 Minutes Africa, where
he was asked about claims by Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno
Omokri, that presidential candidates have files with the FBI.
“I don’t know. I’ve never met the FBI,” Obi replied, saying
he was unaware of having any file with the American agency.
The former Anambra State governor said anyone seeking public
office should be prepared for thorough scrutiny and must accept accountability
as part of leadership.
He said he intended to ask the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, to make his complete academic records available, including his
admission documents and results from his first year through graduation.
“I’m begging the University of Nigeria to make available
every document in my file, how I was admitted and all my results from year one
to final year,” he said.
Obi extended the request to institutions where he attended
executive education programmes, naming Lagos Business School, the London School
of Economics, Columbia Business School, Kellogg Business School and Harvard
Business School.
He also mentioned Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD and IMD, saying
records from all the institutions should be open to examination.
The presidential candidate argued that public officials must
be willing to place their personal and professional histories before the people
they seek to lead.
“If you seek public life, you should subject yourself to
public scrutiny because you are a leader and you must exemplify the values that
make society work,” he said.
Obi also called on other presidential candidates to adopt
the same approach and allow Nigerians to examine their records.
He said candidates who had made mistakes in the past should
be honest about them and explain their actions rather than conceal relevant
information from the public.
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