Ikhide Ikheoa, a former classmate of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the school certificate of the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gatekeepers News reports that Ikhide, in a post shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday, said Okowa was his classmate from 1974-1976 (HSC) at Edo College, Benin City.
According to Ikhide, the Delta Governor was one of the smartest “in a very competitive class.” He said Okowa passed his A levels with flying colours and went on to study medicine at the University of Ibadan (UI) and became a medical doctor.
Ikhide added that Okowa was also a classmate of the current Director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Eghosa Osaghae.
He wrote: “Dr. Arthur Okowa was my classmate at Edo College (1974-1976 HSC). In a very competitive class he was one of the smartest. He passed his A levels with flying colours and went on to become a medical doctor. I found my 1974 WASCE result the other day, I was surprised to see it!
“You can verify Arthur’s pedigree with another classmate and my bosom friend Professor Eghosa Osaghae, great political scientist and current Director-general of NIIA. We were at Edo College together and they both attended UI (University of Ibadan).
“Decades ago, Nigerians had many scholars for leaders. It’s been almost 50 years but I remember Arthur as a smart, decent, caring soul. Certificates are largely ceremonial; in four decades in the US, I’ve never had to show anyone my certificates. That’s what transcripts are for.”
“PS: Arthur was very smart. I was always first in class, and he would come a distant second. I am a genius. What??? Ask him!” added Ikhide.
