Nigeria’s political landscape is currently abuzz with controversy following the release of documents by Chicago State University (CSU) that shed new light on President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials. These revelations have raised serious questions not only about Tinubu’s educational background but also about the authenticity of the documents he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In this article, we will explore the unfolding saga, the allegations of forgery, and the identity controversy surrounding President Tinubu.
The controversy surrounding Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials began when CSU released documents related to his purported attendance at the university. These documents have uncovered glaring discrepancies that have fuelled suspicions about the authenticity of Tinubu’s qualifications.
Phrank Shaibu, Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Public Communications, has played a pivotal role in unveiling the shocking details of the CSU documents. Shaibu’s statement not only questions whether Tinubu ever attended CSU but also asserts that the certificate submitted to INEC was a forgery. These explosive allegations have the potential to carry serious legal and political consequences for President Tinubu.
One of the most perplexing revelations from the CSU documents pertains to Tinubu’s gender. According to the transcript from Southwest College (now Richard Daley College), the document Tinubu used to gain admission into CSU, he was listed as a female. This is a puzzling discrepancy, especially considering that gender-altering surgeries were not widely available during that era.
Another confounding revelation centres around Bola Tinubu’s date of birth. While Tinubu has publicly claimed to have been born on March 29, 1952, the CSU transcript lists his date of birth as March 29, 1954. Such a fundamental inconsistency raises profound questions about Tinubu’s credibility.
Tinubu’s claims of attending Government College, Lagos, have also come under scrutiny. It is alleged that he presented a 1970 GCE A-level result from this institution. However, Government College, Lagos, was established in 1974, creating a timeline anomaly that casts doubt on the authenticity of his documents.
Phrank Shaibu draws attention to the fact that Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) had initially exposed the certificate scandal involving Bola Tinubu 21 years ago. The release of the CSU documents has been viewed by some as vindication of Fawehinmi’s earlier claims, leading to concerns about political hypocrisy, as individuals who once questioned Tinubu’s qualifications now defend him.
Nigerian-American professor Farooq Adamu Kperogi has added further depth to the controversy by offering his analysis of the CSU documents. Kperogi’s findings are striking and reveal crucial information:
– The CSU documents confirm that Tinubu attended the university and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Honours in 1979.
– Kperogi speculates that the certificate submitted to INEC appears inconsistent with the certificates issued by CSU, suggesting possible forgery.
– He raises the possibility that Tinubu lost his original CSU diploma certificate and resorted to forging a replacement.
– The Southwest College transcript used by Tinubu to gain admission to CSU lists him as a female, but Kperogi questions its authenticity.
– Kperogi commends former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for seeking clarity on Tinubu’s past through the release of the CSU documents.
The ongoing controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials has taken another twist, as Dr. Josef Onoh, Tinubu’s image maker in the South East, has come forward to address the claims that the Chicago State University (CSU) certificate released bears the mark of a female graduate. Onoh’s statement sheds light on the legal framework governing education records and the motivations of Tinubu’s critics.
Dr. Josef Onoh emphasized that critics who allege that the CSU certificate belonged to a female graduate are unaware of the Federal law known as the Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA grants individuals like President Tinubu the right to request corrections to their education records if they believe them to be inaccurate. Therefore, Onoh contends that the issue is a straightforward matter of applying for correction if necessary.
Onoh pointed out that even in Nigeria, there is room for correction if errors are spotted in a certificate. He argued that critics of President Tinubu are simply political opportunists who are searching for any means to discredit the President after their defeat in the March 18 presidential election.
Criticism of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi
Dr Josef Onoh did not mince words when criticizing the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi. He accused them of expending a significant amount of energy causing embarrassment for Nigeria and distracting President Tinubu from making progress with his renewed hope mandate.
Debunking Fake News
Addressing the claim that the CSU certificate belonged to a female owner, Onoh categorically labelled it as “fake news.” He argued that those attempting to undermine President Tinubu would always find excuses to remain in the public consciousness, even if it meant resorting to misinformation.
Errors are Common
Onoh emphasised that errors in official documents, including academic certificates, are not uncommon. Even individuals with university degrees in Nigeria may have come across errors in their records, such as misspelt names. These errors, according to Onoh, do not invalidate the certificate’s authenticity or relevance because the certificate holder has the right to have such errors corrected.
Dr Josef Onoh concluded his statement by highlighting the futility of the opposition’s attempts to portray President Tinubu’s certificate as fake. He urged Nigerians to focus on substance rather than emotions, emphasising that the world is ruled by facts and not baseless allegations.
In a somewhat humorous tone, Onoh mentioned the absurdity of the opposition’s efforts, comparing it to attempting to claim a restaurant bill issued in Paris as fake. He stressed the need for informed and rational discourse in the political arena rather than resorting to sensationalism.
In the end, Onoh’s statement aims to provide clarity on the certificate controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu and dismisses the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.
The recent revelations surrounding Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials have sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape. Allegations of forged documents, gender discrepancies, date of birth puzzles, and questionable school attendance have cast a shadow over President Tinubu’s qualifications. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact Tinubu’s political career and the broader Nigerian political landscape. The questions raised by these revelations demand thorough investigation and transparency in the days to come.
Sources
- https://leadership.ng/csu-records-nigerians-should-thank-atiku-for-exposing-tinubu-prof-kperogi/
- https://punchng.com/us-court-order-on-tinubus-csu-academic-records-a-national-disgrace-ex-minister/
- https://www.thecable.ng/atiku-vs-tinubu-in-the-us-what-is-really-at-stake
- https://nigeriannewsdirect.com/chicago-varsity-controversy-trails-release-of-tinubus-academic-credentials/
- https://bnn.network/politics/dissecting-the-certificate-controversy-surrounding-president-bola-ahmed-tinubu/
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/630229-chicago-state-university-releases-tinubus-academic-records-to-atiku.html
