‘Dino, the Unmasking of a Senator’

Since Sahara Reporters broke the news of the certificate scandal trailing Senator Dino Melaye and the subsequent media reports on the issue, both the Ahmadu Bello University, Kogi West Senatorial District and Okunland have been in the wrong spot.

The appearance of ABU VC before a Senate Committee to declare that “Dino Melaye is a graduate of ABU” has not doused the fire.

Many including my  self-are still asking why the Senator`s name is missing in all ABU`s record of graduates including the Alumni list, why both Dino and the VC have refused to present the certificate issued to him after his graduation!

The matter is more intriguing to me as a graduate of ABU.

 I know full well that the sacrosanct rule was, and I believe still is that even though a student is admitted to the remedial school with lower grades as Dino,(Dino got admission into ABU through the School of General and Remedial Studies, SGRS with three credits). Such a student must rectify their “deficiencies” before their third year. ABU would never and I repeat will never graduate a student with three credits. How they bent this rule for Dino, only the VC can explain.

I am pained reading comments of some people`s disparaging one of the greatest citadel of learning in the Africa. Others wondered how ABU admitted the Senator with three credits while some were at a loss as to the quality of the people he represents.

I, therefore, make bold to say that Dino is not the barometer to gauge the quality of ABU graduates or Okun people……”

Now this is the testimony from an ABU old boy. Do you still find hard to believe that the VC acted in a hasty and suspicious way?’ I asked.

‘Well maybe he did, but it’s also likely that he hasn’t read all that you’ve been reading to me now.’ Tahir defended. 

‘Yes, and that brings us to the issue of why he was so ready to stand by the senator when he didn’t dig deeply enough into the subject. Whichever way you look at it, that VC has questions to answer if our NUC will take this matter seriously. And if I were him, I will call a press conference and disclaim my senate testimony on the bases of not being sufficiently informed. I’ll ask for the nation’s forgiveness and get back to my job at the ivory tower. Then I’ll leave the senator to his devices.’ I advised.

‘And what if the VC doesn’t take your prescription?’ Tahir asked, smiling.

‘Then I’ll have no choice but to believe he sold his conscience at some price and stood by a dishonest politician. And I will personally write the NUC and ask them to take action. That’s the only way we can save tertiary education in our country.’ I replied, heatedly. 

Concluded.