APGA Governorship standard bearer in Abia state Prof Gregory Ibe has again debunked rumours making the rounds that he presented another person’s West Africa School Certificate (WASCE) result while submitting his expression of interest form to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Speaking to journalists in Abuja recently, in reaction to claims made by two contenders for the APGA Governorship slot, Sir Chikwe Udensi and Gen Ijioma N Ijioma, during separate sponsored radio programmes monitored in Umuahia, Prof Ibe stated unequivocally that since he successfully completed his secondary school education in Boys High School Ihube Okigwe and took the West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE) there in 1983, he neither needs to forge papers nor present another person’s result.
According to him,” I have been told that my opponents Sir Chikwe Udensi and Gen Ijioma N Ijioma have been spreading false and wicked rumours on air about me alleging that I presented another person’s WAEC certificate to our party. That is not only mischievously preposterous but also malicious since it is an established fact that I attended the reputable Boys High School Ihube Okigwe and successfully took the West Africa School Certificate Examination in that same institution in 1983. Therefore I didn’t need to forge papers or present another person’s certificate since I have mine”.
Responding to a question, Prof Ibe said, “Since I know that this matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, I have tried not to make public comments on the issue since the case is sub judice but my opponents will not let that happen as they continue to spoil my name on radio.They were the people who instituted legal proceedings against me in the first place, but when they failed to get what they wanted they now resort to cheap blackmail, name calling and opprobrium”.
He went further to say, “The fact is that I don’t know any Joseph Ibe who wrote WASCE in 1992 but I am sure my opponents, who incidentally in their separate lines of business are conversant with the standard protocols of recruitment, established processes of verification and validation of documents, impersonation and the misdemeanor of falsification, will in due course be compelled to clear the air on this heinous scheme to undo an innocent man. My name is Gregory Ibe and it is incontrovertible that I sat WASCE in Boys High School Ihube in 1983 with examination number 11510034, and my certificate is still intact”.
Concluding he said,” Let me assure you that as long as God lives and the judiciary remain the last hope of every Nigerian those behind this heinous and wicked defamatory act will not go unpunished, even as I encourage the good of Abia to remain prayerful to ensure that the plans of God to deliver our state from the grip of elements of underdevelopment is not truncated by the selfish activities of unpatriotic people, as I remain resolute in my unwavering commitment to champion the emergence of the new Abia of our dream”.
Judicial correspondents report that having lost their bid to secure the Abia state APGA gubernatorial ticket for the 11 March governorship election during the party’s primary poll of 29 May 2022, three opponents of Prof Ibe have since been in court challenging the processes that led to his emergence as candidate. While Prof Ibe has so far been declared winner in the preliminary cases brought against him by the duo of Gen. Ijioma and Etigwe Uwa,the matter between him and Sir Udensi is currently before the court of appeal for final determination.
See certificate below:
