“Carry Your Cross”, Governor Mbah Tells Just-Resigned Minister Nnaji

By Adesina Soyooye

The Governor of Enugu State, Peter  Mbah, has distanced himself from the circumstances which led to the resignation of the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji.

Nnaji resigned on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, under pressure over the untidy business of forging two of the certificates he presented to the Department of State Security, DSS, and the Senate for screening before his confirmation and inauguration as a Minister.

The untidy business which an Online publication, Premium Times, had followed since Nnaji’s appointment in 2023, burst when the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Simon Ortuanya, wrote to confirm that Nnaji never graduated from the University and, therefore, was given no degree certificate.

And, in a double jeopardy, Nnaji’s National Youth Service Certificate, was also found to have been forged.

An obviously embarrassed Nnaji has been blaming everybody but himself for the fate that befell him. He is pointing accusing fingers at political enemies from his State, Enugu, and described himself as a victim of “political blackmail.”

The main culprit, he strongly hints at, is Governor Mbah. Both men belong to different political parties.

While Mbah is of the Peoples Democratic Party, Nnaji is of the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Mbah, irked by Nnaji’s insinuations, has come out firing from all cylinders, while distancing himself from the mess.

Denying any involvement at a press conference addressed in Enugu by the Director of Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nebo, Mbah advised Nnaji to “Carry his own cross.”

Nebo recalled  that Nnaji had invited Journalists to what he termed a World Press Conference, but failed to show up, and, instead, sent his Aide to do so on his behalf when he, Nnaji, knew very well that only him could tell his own story better than anybody else.

Part of the Statement by Nebo read: “The Enugu State Government dissociates itself completely from these allegations. The Honourable Minister must carry his own cross and clear his name before Nigerians instead of dragging the Government into issues that are entirely personal to him.

“A large number of Nigerian and international Journalists reportedly gathered on the Minister’s invitation to hear directly from him. But rather than appear before them to answer questions and establish his innocence, the Minister absconded, leaving behind proxies who could not withstand the barrage of legitimate questions from Journalists.

“Who can narrate Chief Nnaji’s UNN story better than him? Why invite the Media, only to outsource the conference? Why send third parties who lack the answers to critical questions if he truly has nothing to hide?”

The statement then went on to reveal more things on about Nnaji which answers are required.

“Did he, for his screening, present a purported degree certificate to the Senate showing that he graduated from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in July 1985?

“Is it true that he deposed, in a Federal High Court filing in Abuja, that he was not issued any degree certificate by UNN and, if so, how did he come about the degree certificate he presented to the Senate?

“Is it also true that while he claims to have graduated in July 1985, he applied to the University to retake Virology (Course code: MCB 431) in the September 1985 Supplementary Examination, having failed the course?

“Is it, also, true that the University, in a November 8, 1985 letter, informed Uche Nnaji that he, again, failed Virology, (Course code: MCB 431) in the Supplementary Examinations, but could register to retake the Course in the June 1986 examinations, provided he paid an examination fee of N4.00 (Four Naira)?

“Is it true that on January 3, 1986, he again applied to retake the Virology (Course code MCB 431) examination in June 1986, stating in the letter that the receipt for the payment of the N4.00 (Four Naira) receipt fee had been attached?

“Is it true that while he claims to be in possession of a University degree, he only submitted his Secondary School WASC Certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his participation in the 2023 Governorship election?

“Why did Uche Nnaji’s proxy state at the Abuja press  conference that the Minister “graduated”, while avoiding stating categorically that he was issued a degree certificate?

“Did he, also, present a purported NYSC discharge certificate showing that he commenced his national service in April 1985, three months before his supposed graduation, and served until 1986 – an unusual duration of 13 months instead of the usual 12 months of national service?

“Whereas the CEO of the NYSC at the time he claimed to have undergone the national service was Col. Edet Akpan, (January 1984 to December 1987), Uche Nnaji’s NYSC  discharge certificate was signed by Col. Animashaun Braimoh who was NYSC CEO from January 1988 to December 1990.

“Is it true that the NYSC issued up till October 1990, had six-digit numbering, devoid of alphabetic characters, but Uche Nnaji’s discharge certificate, supposedly issued in 1986, was numbered A231309, which includes the alphabet ‘A’?

“And, above all, that he deposed to an affidavit in the suit he filed in Court that UNN, did not issue him any certificate? And, if that is the case, Nigerians want to know how he came about the certificate he submitted to the Senate of his own free will in 2023.

“These are the clarifications Nigerians earnestly yearn for, and Chief Uche Nnaji is urged to brave up to clear his name if he is truly innocent, rather than trading blames.”

Not a few people think that the contents of this press statement by the Enugu State Government was the final push which forced Nnaji to throw-in the towel.