The ongoing controversy surrounding the fake honorary degree conferred on popular Hausa political praise singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, has sparked new reactions from political figures, with All Progressives Congress (APC) singer and Renewed Hope Ambassador, Jadda Garko, demanding an investigation into the incident. Garko, who has publicly defended Rarara, insists that the musician was misled by the organisers and should not bear any blame for the scandal.
Rarara, who became a household name during the 2015 general elections for his musical support of Muhammadu Buhari, has since remained a significant figure in Northern Nigeria’s political scene. Known for his powerful praise songs that resonate with the APC’s followers, Rarara’s influence extends beyond music, shaping political discourse in the region.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano on Sunday, Garko responded to criticisms aimed at the singer, emphasising that the blame lies squarely with the organisers of the event. He explained that the incident mirrored a previous episode involving the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, which had been falsely linked to honouring Rarara a claim that the institution publicly denied.
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“This is not Rarara’s fault. As the proverb says, when a blind man falls into a pit while walking with a guide, the fault is not with his eyes but with the one leading him,” Garko told the gathered journalists. He added that critics mocking the singer online should show restraint, acknowledging that Rarara had been duped by an unqualified institution.
The controversial event, which took place in Abuja, saw organisers claiming to be affiliated with the European-American University, a name that later turned out to be a fabrication. The “university” had conferred an “honorary doctorate” on Rarara, but the institution quickly issued a disclaimer, disowning the award and describing it as fake.
Public affairs analyst, Farooq Kperogi, further exposed the “university” as a sham with no legal authority to confer such honours. Garko expressed sympathy for the governor and minister who had attended the event, asserting that they, too, had been misled by the fraudulent organisers.
“I sympathise with the governor and minister who were likewise deceived into attending a bogus event organised by an unqualified institution. Authorities must act to prevent such incidents in the future,” Garko insisted.
