The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to clear the air on his academic credentials and save Nigeria from what he described as “protracted embarrassment and undue anxiety”.
Obi made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, in response to the release of Tinubu’s academic records by the Chicago State University (CSU) at the request of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Obi asked Tinubu to again tell Nigerians the schools he attended, if he participated in the one-year National Youth Service Corps scheme, and whether he indeed changed his name at any time.
He said that Tinubu “still holds the nation on the world obligation only he can discharge”.
“I therefore respectfully and humbly call on him to immediately perform a simple task once and for all. He should introduce himself to the nation he governs and to the world for the avoidance of further doubt,” Obi said.
“He should let the world know his name, nationality, place of birth, parentage, primary and secondary schools attended with dates, as well as the actual universities attended and certificates obtained. He should indicate clearly where and when he did his National Youth Service (NYSC).
“In addition, if at any time, he had a change of name, he should state so clearly.”
Obi said that the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic credentials had “further worsened Nigeria’s less-than-glorious image internationally”.
“Uninformed outsiders now see every Nigerian as a fraudster, certificate forger, or identity thief,” he said.
“This controversy is unnecessary, just as the implicit global embarrassment could have been avoided.”
Obi said that Tinubu, having occupied the highest political office in the country, no longer has a right to any privacy regarding his identity.
Atiku had requested the release of Tinubu’s certificate from CSU over the suspicion that the certificate the former Lagos State governor submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not be authentic.
During a press conference last week after Tinubu’s academic records were released to him, Atiku called on Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other Nigerians to join his quest for “justice” over the matter.
Atiku also vowed not to stop on the issue as he said he would continue to seek justice over the matter.
