Like Buhari, Like Fowler – Nigerians React To Reports About Fake Honorary Doctorate Degree Of New FIRS Boss

Yesterday serious allegations were posed against the new member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s team, Williams Babatunde Fowler, who was has been appointed head of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The detailed investigation suggested that Fowler’s Honorary Doctorate Degree of the Irish International University, which was proudly announced by the presidency, is of no value as it was issued by a fraudulent, non-existing university. More questions were raised even regarding Fowler’s bachelor’s degree.

The report caused outrage among Nigerians who wondered how a man of, so-to-say, insufficient qualification can manage affairs in the FIRS. Those opposing the acting government referred to the pre-election reports doubting the education level of Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate.

Naij.com readers were like…

1. Some came down on Buhari:

Sylvanus Ikechukwu: “Even Buhari holds fake WAEC cert.so all d same.pls is no shocker to me at all.”

Idongesit Ibok: “D most careful person ends up makin’ d worst careless mistakes…. Buhari, Buhari, Buhari. How many times have i called u?… Ok”

Aminu Sa’ad Beli: “Well, at least, Tunibu, Buhari and Fowler share one thing: School Certificate credibility! May God save Nigeria!”

2. Some wondered what the whole mess was about

Olufemi Odusina: “If Baba Buhari has fake WASC and he is realy performing what about Gej that had good Phd but only performed well in stealing our money . SAI BUHARI,LOUD.”

Brass Ige Samu Aledare: “WHAT has fake honorary Degree got to do with this appointment?”

3. Some just asked to give Fowler time to do his job, with or without the credible certificate

Chinedu Ohams: “Certificate or not, pls let the man do the work if he can. We need people who can perform even if what they have is only NEPA Bill.lol”

George Chris: “What makes Buhari fake? You people can,t appreciate something right yet you want something good. Even a school cert holder can perform if with the right company. U haters open your eyes and embrace change.”

4. Some doubted the authenticity of the report

Gabriel Mike Mike Segun: “Dat is a story 4gods.”

Habiodun Costa: “Wat eva u people lik publish it no wahala, d records are there. Befo he was given d job in lagos, d highest amount eva realised was 3billion nd wen he got der it rose to 20biloon per mont. Most of u writin rubbish here canot turn 10,000 to 15, 000 in a year, but instead of celebratin success wat u do cus all of u are failures is to look likeminds.”

Twitter users were like…

That story that says fowler has a fake phd is misleading at best.. makes it seem like he forged a PhD, no! He obtained it from a scam uni...

— Habeeb or Silas (@OWOYEMIBSILAS) August 21, 2015

What'll happen now?,This one they're saying Babatunde Fowler has an honorary doctorate degree from fake university.

— Fadahunsi Oladipupo (@seunfadahunsi) August 21, 2015

How come Fowler did not know his honorary degree was fake cos if he did, calls his integrity into question. Maybe not his ability but still

— N (@Imagervet) August 21, 2015

If fowler choose to use a FAKE phd , He should bear the consequence, Things must Change @ogundamisi

— Muriee (@MurtalaIbin) August 20, 2015

If fowler really has fake degree and certificate 4rm a non existing university how come he's been working in Lagos state govt? Hilarious tho

— The FirstLady (@Aweleokolo) August 21, 2015

It is not clear whether the presidency will provide official comments on the issue. However, it is worth noting that the discussions in social media are gathering steam.