The Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi challenged President Bola Tinubu to reveal his true identity and academic credentials to the public. Obi said Nigerians have the right to know the background and qualifications of their leader, especially in light of the recent controversy surrounding Tinubu’s degree from Chicago State University (CSU).
Obi, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said Tinubu should “re-introduce” himself to the nation and the world and provide clear information about his name, nationality, place of birth, parentage, schools attended, certificates obtained, and national service. He also asked Tinubu to explain if he had ever changed his name and why.
Obi said he was concerned about the prolonged identity crisis that Tinubu faced in the American court system, where he was accused of falsifying his CSU credentials. He said the matter had tarnished Nigeria’s image internationally and raised doubts about Tinubu’s integrity and competence.
“The controversy is unnecessary, just as the implicit global embarrassment could have been avoided. In my opinion, Chief Bola Tinubu should have saved the nation and himself from this protracted embarrassment and undue anxiety,” Obi said.
He added that Tinubu should not hide behind his spokespersons or surrogates but make a direct personal statement to clear the air. “This simple task should take no more than a few minutes. It requires no affidavits, prolonged court processes, spokespersons, agents, or surrogates. This task is one that only Chief Bola Tinubu himself, through a direct personal statement, can perform. He must perform this task urgently in order to lay to rest, once and for the last time, the many lingering doubts and valid speculations about his true identity.”
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed Obi’s demand as a desperate attempt to smear Tinubu’s reputation and distract him from his achievements as president. The APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, said in a statement that Tinubu does not need a re-introduction, as Nigerians know him well as a defender of democracy, freedom, social and economic justice for over three decades.
Morka said Tinubu has a distinguished record as a former auditor and treasurer of Mobil Nigeria (now ExxonMobil), a former senator and chairman of the finance and appropriations committee, and a former governor of Lagos State who transformed the state into the fifth-largest economy in Africa.
Morka also said that Tinubu’s academic record at CSU was clear and settled, as the university had confirmed that he graduated with honors and had an impressive transcript with 18As, 10Bs, and 3Cs grades.
“It is disturbing and utterly contemptuous of the courts of our land for the duo of Atiku and Obi to rail and pollute the public space with the very same issues that they have submitted to the court for adjudication. They have continued to perpetrate public deception, simultaneously operating as accusers and judges in their own base cause,” Morka said.
He urged Nigerians to ignore Obi’s antics and support Tinubu’s vision of building a prosperous and inclusive Nigeria for all.
Source: Business Day
