Exclusive…Heap of petitions flood Yale for and against Okonjo-Iweala

Nigerians have taken to fighting each other over the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on change.org for and against the Honorary Award recently awarded to her by the Yale University in America.

Recent reports in the country suggest that a Nigerian, Sunday Iwalaiye, on Wednesday started an online petition on change.Org, urging Nigerians to sign a petition asking the university to withdraw the award. His petition stated that Okonjo-Iweala did not deserve the award, and accusing her of being responsible for the harsh economic conditions the country is facing.

However, checks by Ripples shows that another Nigerian, Emmanuel Etim, on Thursday also started a petition asking the university NOT TO withdraw the award from Okonjo-Iweala. His petition stated that “Some Nigerians have chosen to petition the university to withdraw the honorary doctorate degree. This petition seeks to give an opportunity to Nigerians who support the University’s choice of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala for the award. We DO NOT want the university to withdraw the award. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is not only deserving of the award but also well appreciated at home and abroad for her contribution to Nigeria, Africa and the world”

While these are ongoing, yet another person, presumably a Nigerian, Awazie Chinomnso, also started a petition urging Morgan State University, also in the U.S.A to withdraw a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Administration and Supervision awarded to Sunday Iwalaiye, the person who allegedly sponsored the petition against Okonjo-Iweala.

The petition stated in part that: “Mr. Sunday Iwalaiye has crossed the line of professionalism and ethics by TWISTING facts at best but mostly telling OUTRIGHT LIES in an apparent HATE mission on Dr. Okojo-Iweala. It is constructive to note that Mr. Sunday Iwalaiye is a STAUNCH opposition supporter, an opposition against the outgoing administration of which Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is a key figure. Telling OUTRIGHT LIES in an effort to cast aspersions on the career or personality of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is the height of unethical practice and unprofessionalism.”

“…. In view of this, one is left to wonder on what grounds Mr. Sunday Iwalaiye is blackmailing Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala unless on that of GENDER BIAS and political mischief.

“It is on the basis of above that I call on The School of Education and Urban Service, Morgan State University, Maryland to withdraw the certificate she offered to Sunday Iwalaiye on the basis of preserving her image as an institution that upholds INTEGRITY, HONESTY, INTELLECTUALISM AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER of graduates from her institution”.

 

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