Jonathan Debunks Certificate Scandal Allegation

The newspaper had alleged that “President Goodluck Jonathan had also been caught momentarily in the web of a certificate scandal”, as the former president claimed to have completed his PhD course in the University of Port Harcourt.

But in a reaction by media aide to the former President, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan stated that he has no links to any doubt, scandal or controversy concerning his academic qualification.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to a story in the Punch newspaper of Sunday, March 26 where former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was mentioned as one of the ‘prominent Nigerians with certificate scandals’.

“We really don’t know where this is coming from, but we wish to remain unambiguous in our assertion that this is obvious falsehood, since the former President has never been linked to any doubt, scandal or controversy concerning his academic qualifications.

“We are not aware of any probe, allegation or litigation relating to his very well known academic qualifications. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that former President Jonathan’s educational records can easily be traced to St Michael’s Primary School, Oloibiri and Mater Dei High School, lmiringi where he obtained his first school leaving certificate (FSLC) and General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level respectively, as well as the University of Port Harcourt, where he received his Bachelor of Science, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Luckily, many of former President Jonathan’s classmates from primary school through the university are still alive and are traceable.

“It is, therefore, obvious that there is no justification for this abstruse association, as there is nothing linking the former President to the story.

“Again, we advise media organisations to always cross-check their facts in order to avoid falling for the convenient choice of publishing false information.”