(Alwan Hassan. Photo by Daily Post)
Alwan Hassan, a leader of the All Progressives Congress, has maintained that a person’s capacity to govern effectively cannot be determined solely by their educational background.
Citing former President Goodluck Jonathan and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as examples, Hassan refuted assertions on a political television broadcast that greater educational attainment inevitably results in effective government.
He maintained that leadership should be evaluated based on performance, competence and results rather than academic credentials, questioning what impact Jonathan’s doctoral degree and Obi’s university education had on their governance and public communication, and insisting that educational attainment does not necessarily produce effective leaders.
Hassan also referenced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, arguing that political judgment and leadership decisions are not solely shaped by academic qualifications.
He further accused opposition parties of focusing on President Bola Tinubu’s academic records instead of offering constructive criticism of his administration’s policies and performance.
Defending Tinubu against allegations surrounding his academic credentials from Chicago State University, Hassan stated that the institution has not officially declared that the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission was forged.
He added that Nigeria’s Constitution recognises a school certificate or its equivalent as a qualification for public office, arguing that basic literacy, the ability to read and write, satisfies that constitutional requirement.
Hassan maintained that the true measure of leadership lies in the capacity to deliver results and improve the lives of citizens, rather than the mere possession of academic degrees.