By Grace Chigbu
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reignited the debate concerning the academic background of President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku, who is currently advocating in a U.S court for Chicago State University to clarify the discrepancies in the certificates awarded to President Tinubu, believes that without an official statement from the institution, the public will remain in the dark about the academic track record of the ex-Lagos State Governor.
Sharing his thoughts on his verified X handle @atiku on Sunday, Atiku expressed, “I woke up this morning wondering how we got to this impasse. In 1999, @officialABAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) stated that he attended St John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos, and then moved to Children Home School in Ibadan.
He further asserted that he attended Government College Ibadan and then moved to the U.S to study at Richard Daley College and Chicago State University. However, by 2023, he claimed to have only attended Chicago State University. I’m puzzled. How did he bypass primary and secondary education, yet attain a university degree? Perhaps Nigerians should inquire about Tinubu’s educational narrative.”
Accompanying his statement was a light-hearted emoji, indicating a touch of humor to his remark.
Both Atiku and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, are contesting the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded to Atiku’s statements. Bala Ibrahim, the Publicity Director of the APC, characterizes Atiku as a poor sport, attempting to tarnish the reputation of the president out of spite.
Bala Ibrahim said, “Politicians often act in perplexing ways. One may question if their actions are for the greater good or simply to challenge the system. Given Atiku Abubakar’s extensive history in Nigerian politics, it’s surprising to see him resort to such tactics. Throughout his career, he has faced numerous accusations from opponents, most of which were dismissed due to lack of merit. Yet now, he seems to be echoing the same unfounded claims. If he continues in this manner, history might not judge him favorably. His current behavior resembles that of an unsporting competitor.”
This back-and-forth between two prominent figures in the Nigerian political landscape underscores the intense rivalry and deep-seated issues within the nation’s politics. As Atiku pushes for transparency regarding President Tinubu’s academic history, the ruling party’s response highlights the complex dynamics at play. The situation warrants further scrutiny, as the truth remains to be unveiled.
