(Peter Obi And Goodluck Jonathan. Photo Credit; The Sun Nigeria)
Alwan Hassan, a member of the All Progressives Congress, has rejected the claim that leadership ability is determined by academic credentials, arguing that notable opposition figures’ educational backgrounds have not improved Nigeria’s political acumen or governance.
Speaking on a television political programme, Hassan argued that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s PhD and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s university degree, had not produced any significant national transformation.
He questioned what Jonathan’s doctorate had achieved for Nigeria, and how Obi’s degree had improved his communication skills, adding that academic qualifications had also not helped former Vice President Atiku Abubakar know when to contest an election or when to step aside for the best candidate of the time.
According to Hassan, the opposition has failed to present substantive criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, relying instead on debates over his academic background.
He also defended Tinubu against allegations surrounding his certificate from Chicago State University, maintaining that the institution has never officially declared that the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission was forged.
He argued that the Constitution only requires a school certificate or its equivalent, which he described as simply the ability to read and write.
The APC chieftain maintained that leadership should be judged by performance rather than academic credentials, insisting that educational qualifications alone do not guarantee effective governance.