Politics in Enugu State is heating up again, and if you have been following the gist lately, you would have noticed the sudden “certificate” drama being spun around Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the Minister of Science and Technology. The timing of this scandal is no coincidence. With the 2027 elections drawing closer, it looks more and more like a well-scripted attempt to stain the clean image of one of Enugu’s most respected sons.
Chief Uche Nnaji, popularly known as Ide, has long been known for his integrity, innovation, and quiet but firm leadership. He is not the kind of politician who swims in controversy, so when a strange story started making the rounds about his University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) certificate, many Nigerians immediately smelled something fishy. The allegations, at best, were laughable, but at worst, they were pure political blackmail, a desperate move to pull down a man whose growing popularity threatens certain political structures in the state. Besides, below is a testament to the fact that he indeed finished from UNN.
Sources within Enugu’s political circles suggest that this entire drama is the handiwork of the current Enugu State Governor. According to these insiders, the governor has been unsettled by the rising influence of Uche Nnaji ahead of the 2027 primaries. Nnaji’s name has been ringing in political meetings and on street corners across the state. His developmental track record and reputation for transparency have made him a strong contender, a threat that those in power cannot ignore.
Now, here’s where things get really interesting. The person at the center of this so-called “certificate investigation” is the current Vice Chancellor of UNN, a man many say should not even be occupying that seat in the first place. According to reports, the VC was allegedly planted there by the Enugu Governor himself, a strategic move to ensure loyalty and control over sensitive academic matters.
But what raises eyebrows even more is that this Vice Chancellor’s own professorship is reportedly questionable. Academic standards dictate that one must serve at least five years as a professor before being eligible for the position of Vice Chancellor. However, in this case, sources claim that he did not complete the standard tenure before being appointed, yet here he is, sitting atop one of Nigeria’s most prestigious universities. If that does not scream “political appointment”, then what does?
The irony here is almost poetic. The same Enugu Governor allegedly engineering this smear campaign against Uche Nnaji also has questions hanging over his own educational records. Rumors about inconsistencies in his WAEC results have circulated for years, but rather than address those concerns, it appears he is more interested in dragging someone else into the mud, perhaps to create a “level playing field” of scandals. If he cannot clear his own record, he seems determined to ensure that no one else’s remains spotless.
Political analysts see this entire situation as a familiar Nigerian tactic: when you cannot match someone’s credibility, you try to stain it. This is not about certificates; it is about power. It is about control, and it is about ensuring that a credible, popular contender like Uche Nnaji is distracted or discredited before the primaries even begin.
The strategy is clear: stir up controversy, feed it to hungry blogs, and hope that the noise drowns out the truth. But the people of Enugu are not easily fooled. They have seen this play out too many times: the blackmail, the fake headlines, the character assassination, all before an election. It is the oldest trick in the book, and frankly, the audience is tired.
At the end of the day, Chief Uche Nnaji’s record speaks louder than any baseless allegation. His integrity, his contributions to science and technology, and his unshakable reputation among the people remain intact. Those behind this plot might succeed in making noise for a while, but when the dust settles, Nigerians, especially Ndi Enugu, will see through the lies.
In politics, reputation is currency, and Uche Nnaji has earned his honestly. No amount of blackmail can take that away.
