BENIN — Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State’s pardon for the 936 teachers, who falsified their age, has no political bearing as reported in the media, but “a show of courage and leadership,” a media aide to the governor has said.

“Leadership is a product of compromise and not the most powerful, advantaged and wealthy,” a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the governor, Mr John Mayaki, said.

According to him, “Oshiomhole is in his second tenure already and as such, could not have pardoned the teachers because of reelection. The report smacks of hate-mongering, disingenuous lies that define the columnist and it is unfortunate because we don’t need that for the growth of this democracy.

“Let me put the record straight, the teachers are not fake teachers as being speculated in the media. The problem they had was age falsification, perhaps to remain in the service for a long time. Basically, this is a Nigerian problem not peculiar to Edo State.

“However, I was shocked to read in the media, where it was erroneously published why the governor pardoned the teachers. I think the author of the report was sponsored or was ill-informed.

“I don’t believe anyone living in Nigeria would say that a popular governor like Oshiomhole is seeking reelection. The author does not need to malign the governor in order to get some kind of foothold because he could lose credibility which he has already lost.”