By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Residents of Taraba State on Tuesday said, the continued stay of Mr Joseph Joshua, as Commissioner for Youth and Sports without being suspended by Governor Agbu Kefas, to face justice over the alleged Cotonou fake degree certificate would thwart the quality education move of the governore.
Our Correspondent recalls that the residents had in January 2024, appealed to Kefas to suspend the commissioner to maintain his government’s reputation.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that, one Sulaiman Adamu of Jalingo Local Government Area had on January 15, 2024, petitioned the state Commissioner for Youth and Sport before the Director, Department of State Security Services, Taraba State Command to investigate the Bachelor of Science, in Information Technology with Second Class (Upper Division) obtained by Joseph Joshua from the University of Benin Republic in 2021.
Our correspondent also reports that Joshua had during the commissioner-nominees’ screening in Jalingo, presented before the Taraba State House of Assembly, a B.Sc certificate obtain from Benin Republic in 2021.
Adamu asserted in the petition that the Commissioner never travelled to Benin Republic for studies and as such, be sacked as Commissioner in the state.
Following the development, residents of the state are envisaging that the continued silence of Agbu Kefas over the issue would thwart the quality education move of the administration, since many citizens would no longer be conscious of forgery.
“The continued silence of Governor Agbu Kefas over the alleged fake Cotonou degree certificate of his Commissioner for Youth and sport, Mr Joseph Joshua, is an encouragement of more fake graduates. The development would attract fake graduates even in the community University (Taraba State University Jalingo), and other institution in the state.
“Mr Joshua Panunga, Ayuba Kirim and Buba Alhassan, expressed that the quality education move of governore Kefas would no longer be taking serious at every quarter and citizens, since he is having an alleged fake certificate holder as Commissioner without being allowed to be investigated.
“We want governore Kefas to suspend the commissioner to face justice. Allowing the commissioner to continue serving in the position is a clear encouragement of more forgery among citizens in the state. No one will feel that forgery is a crime especially in Taraba. Every one will believe that even with a fake certificate, you can be placed in any top governmet position in the state.
“Our major concern now is the current preach and move for quality education in Taraba by the governore. How can citizens and other Nigerians be convince that the governore is not an advocate of fake certificate when he is being silent over a fake degree certificate petition against his commissioner?
“We wish to appeal to the governor to suspend his commissioner for Youth and Sport, and allow the security to carry-out investigation in the petition against him. We are not against the commissioner but the continue silence of the governore over the matter and allowing the commissioner in the office without proving to the public that he genuinely attended the university and obtain the certificate as claimed would lower the moral of citizens over the quality education campaign of the administration.
“Governor Kefas has been talking about ensuring sanity in his governmet but we are suprise that he is keeping silence about his commissioner’s fake certificate allegation. We are happy with the governore’s stands to ensure that every citizen acquires free basic and quality education. However, it would be discouraging if any of his appointee is alleged having a fake certificate and the governor is insensitive about it,” the residents envisaged.
Meanwhile Mr Joseph Joshua, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sport, when contacted said, the law should perform its duty.
Reacting to the residents’ feelings, Mr Emmanuel Bello, Special Adviser to Kefas on media and digital communication, expressed that governor Kefas was serious about quality and free education, and that nothing would thwart the effort of the governor in developing Taraba State.
“One thing that Governor Kefas would not compromise on is the development of Taraba. Just as education is key in his agenda, I want to assure you that nothing of any kind would thwart the governor’s quality education drive for Taraba State,” Bello reacted.
