Politics

US Varsity Speaks on Certificate Forgery Allegation Against GRV

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2023

* Says “He Attended MIT and Obtained a Master’s Degree in Architecture

An American university, the Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT), has said the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, attended the school.

The management of the school told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that Mr Rhodes-Vivour obtained a Master’s Degree in Architecture after studying at the institution between 2005 and 2008.

The school was reacting to reports circulating on social media suggesting that the governorship candidate did not attend the university.

Mr Rhodes-Vivour has been at the centre of a certificate forgery allegation after an email that purportedly emanated from the office of the Registar of MIT appeared on social media claiming that the candidate did not attend the institution.

The email quoted Nathaniel Hagee, a coordinator at MIT academic record office, that there was no record Mr Rhodes-Vivour graduated from the university.

The mail was alleged to be a response to an enquiry made by a Nigerian on the educational status of Mr Rhodes-Vivour.

Mr Rhodes-Vivour had via his Twitter handle reacted to the forgery allegation as fake news and another attempt by his opponents to divert attention from issue-based campaign.

“It has been brought to my attention that the purported email below is in circulation with respect to my degree from @MIT

“This is untrue and another failed strategy the opposition is using to divert your attention from having an issue-based campaign,” he tweeted.

On Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES contacted the MIT records office and spoke with Mr Hagee via telephone. He requested us to write a mail on the subject.

This medium immediately followed up as directed and got a response from Mr Hagee that all questions should be directed to MIT’s News Office,. He also did not deny nor confirm the authenticity of the email circulating online.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted MIT’s News Office, Sarah McDonnell, Deputy Director, Media Relations, responded that Mr Rhodes-Vivour indeed attended the school and earned a Master’s degree.

“Thank you for reaching out. The MIT Registrar’s Office can confirm that Mr Rhodes-Vivour attended MIT from 2005 to 2008 and earned a Master of Architecture degree,” Ms McDonnell wrote.

The newspaper then followed up with another email to Ms McDonnell, asking if the initial email that claimed that Mr Rhodes-Vivour did not attend the school emanated from the record office.

In her response, MIT spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the mail, noting that it indeed emanated from MIT. She, however, claimed that the record office initially ran a search using a “variation of Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s name that did not match the information in MIT’s database.”

“The MIT Registrar’s Office was initially asked to search for a variation of Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s name that did not match the information in their database. Upon further review, they can confirm that Mr Rhodes-Vivour attended MIT and earned a Master of Architecture degree, as I shared in my earlier email,” she said..

Mr Rhodes-Vivour is contesting against the incumbent governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and 13 other candidates.

His party, the LP, is popular among young people.

During the 25 February presidential election, the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, defeated the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the state.

Mr Tinubu, a former governor of the state, who is the political godfather of Governor Sanwo-Olu, suffered a humiliating defeat in a state he had politically dominated for over two decades. However, he subsequently won the presidential election.

Following its victory in the presidential election in the state, the party believes it will win the governorship election come 18 March.

Politics

Soludo Appoints Law Mefor as Anambra Commissioner for Information

Published

2 weeks ago

September 18, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

By Elizabeth Okwe

The governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has appointed renowned media consultant and Forensic Psychologist Dr Law Mefor as the state’s commissioner for information.

In a statement on Tuesday by Christian Aburime, the chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, Soludo expressed confidence in Mefor’s ability to foster a robust information environment in the state.

The governor also commended Nwosu for his contributions as commissioner for information during his time and wished him the best in his future endeavours.

“The governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has approved the appointment of Dr. Law Mefor, who has been sworn in as the new commissioner for information in Anambra state,” the statement reads.

“Dr. Mefor replaces Sir Paul Nwosu, who has moved on after over ten years of meritorious service to the Anambra state government.

“Dr. Law Mefor, a distinguished academic and public intellectual, brings a wealth of experience to his new position.

“With an impressive academic portfolio, he holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, alongside degrees in General and Applied Psychology from the University of Jos, Forensic Psychology from Nasarawa State University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.

“Over the years, Dr. Mefor has established himself as an educator and media consultant, lecturing for over a decade at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja.

“He has also made significant contributions as a syndicated columnist, publishing thought-provoking articles in TheCable and various online and mainstream newspapers.

“Wishing him success as he assumes his new role, Governor Soludo expressed confidence in Dr. Mefor’s ability and extensive experience to strengthen the communication machinery of the state and foster a more vibrant information environment for the government’s developmental strides.

“Also, the governor commended Sir Paul Nwosu for his dedication and contributions during his tenure as Commissioner for Information, wishing him the very best in his future endeavours.”

A perfect choice

Meanwhile, the choice of Dr Law Mefor as the state’s commissioner for information by Governor Soludo has been described as a fit-to-type one which will raise the bar in the state’s information management.

According to Public Affairs Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Media Limited, publishers of SunriseNigeria magazine and sunrisengr.com, Dr James Odaudu, Dr Mefor is not only a consumate academician but also a thoroughbred media professional with a wide reach who will definitely deploy his wealth of experience and professional expertise to make a difference.

In a congratulatory message to the new commissioner, Odaudu expressed the hope that he will continue in his well-documented trajectory of devoted service to his people which has been his hallmark even as a private practitioner.

The SunriseNigeria publisher assured the Commissioner of his organisation’s readiness to partner with the Anambra state government to achieve its desired goals in information dissemination and public engagement.

International

Some Top Republicans Secretly Pray for Kamala Harris Massive Win

Published

1 month ago

September 5, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

By Dan Ladden-Hall

It seems it’s not just Democrats who are hoping that Donald Trump will be dealt a devastating defeat in November.

Several notable Republican figures also want the former president to lose to Kamala Harris but aren’t saying so publicly, according to Politico. Some GOP lawmakers see the possibility of a new Trump term as bad news for the party, the outlet reports.

Among those concerned are proponents of free market economic policies who are concerned by Trump’s proposed import tariffs, while abortion rights opponents are also skeptical of his inconsistent messaging on that issue, according to Politico.

They’re also reportedly concerned that Trump winning in 2024 could hurt the GOP’s electoral chances in the future.

“There’s a lot of anxiety about what Trump does to Republican ability to win in 2028—and what he also may do to the party in terms of policy long term,” one anonymous conservative leader told Politico. “There is just this concern that like, ‘OK, if the party just goes in that direction, then what kind of party is it going forward? And can conservatives, then, have a home going forward?’”

The outlet also claims concerned Republicans hope Trump’s loss is by a wide margin in order to help stifle any attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his hypothetical defeat.

In a separate column, Politico’s columnist Jonathan Martin claimed the best outcome for the future of the Republican Party is for Trump to “lose soundly” in November.

“For most Republicans who’ve not converted to the Church of MAGA, this scenario is barely even provocative,” Martin writes. “In fact, asking around with Republicans last week, the most fervent private debate I came across in the party was how best to accelerate Trump’s exit to the 19th Hole.”

In a statement, Trump spokesperson Brian Hughes told the outlet that Trump has “unified the GOP like never before” and “expanded his coalition of support across partisan lines to Democrats and Independents.”

“Our campaign and down-ballot Republicans are poised for a great result in November, despite a few hand-wringing, anonymous sources who are not bold enough to attach their names to this drivel,” Hughes added.

* Reuters

Politics

Former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman Emerges Labour Party Caretaker Chairman

Published

1 month ago

September 4, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

As part of efforts to bring the seeming intractable crisis that has bedeviled the Party since the 2023 elections, the Labour Party on Wednesday announced the composition of a 29-man caretaker committee to be chaired by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman.

Similarly, the Immediate-past Senate Minority Deputy Leader, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, was appointed to serve as Secretary to the committee which will midwife an election of a new leadership of the party within the next 90 days.

This development effectively ended the tenure of the party’s erstwhile National Chairman, Julius Abure and members of his executive Committee.

The party reached the resolution at the end of the Party’s NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting held at Government House Umuahia, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Abia State, Ukoha Njoku,

He said that the Terms of Reference of the Committee include, ensuring the conduct of Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and National Convention as soon as possible and in accordance with the Constitution of the Labour Party.

READ ALSO: More Moles Will Be Exposed, Fumigated Out — Labour Party

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At the end of the NEC/Extended Stakeholders Meeting held in Umuahia, the Abia State Capital, a roll call was conducted and the meeting was confirmed to be duly convened that a 29-member Caretaker Committee was constituted immediately to ensure that there is no vacuum in the Leadership of the Party.

Other members representing various interest groups including NLC, TUC, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election.

The meeting equally commended Governor Alex Otti for his leadership in hosting the meeting and enjoined members of the party to support the Caretaker Committee to achieve its mandates.

The resolution named other members of the Committee to include 3 Senators, 4 members of House of Representatives, 3 members from States House of Assembly, 3 members from the Nigeria Labour Congress, 3 members from the Trade Union Congress, 3 members from the Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election among others.

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The Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, said that the meeting was convened to deal with the existential problems confronting the party and chart a way forward for the Party.

He noted that the tenure of the National working Committee of the Party headed by Bar. Julius Abure had elapsed since 10th of June 2024 and called on all stakeholders of the party to join forces together to resolve every internal problems of the party.

Governor Otti said that the overall interest of all Labour Party Stakeholders is the survival of the party and not necessarily the composition of the NWC as far as it is constitutionally composed.

Also Speaking, the National Leader of the party and Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, said that all they are doing is to follow the guidelines established by law to save the party from total collapse.

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He noted that Labour Party being the third largest party in Nigeria has the potential of being the brightest if things are put in the right perspective and urged members of the party to give the caretaker Committee the needed support to enable it succeed in its assignments.

Responding on behalf of members of the caretaker Committee, the Chairman, Senator Usman thanked the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and other stakeholders for finding them fit for the task and assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.

Highlights of the meeting was the reaffirmation of the solid confidence in the leadership of the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and the resolution that all members with legal case against the party should withdraw same for the overall interest of the party.