The media aide to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Paul Ibe, and PDP youth leader, Timothy Osadolor, engaged in a verbal exchange with the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding President Bola Tinubu’s academic records.
Ibe criticized the APC for allegedly “abandoning the President” in the ongoing case filed by Atiku in a United States court. Atiku had requested court approval to subpoena Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU) to clarify alleged inconsistencies in his background.
Tinubu claimed that discrepancies on his certificate from the university were due to a clerical error. His lawyers argued that a clerk at the university had made an error regarding the date on the recently-issued certificate, leading to perceived differences.
Atiku, Tinubu’s opponent in the 2023 presidential election, filed a lawsuit seeking disclosure of Tinubu’s academic records. The court granted Tinubu until August 23 to respond to the request.
The President maintained that he holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from CSU, while Atiku alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were forged.
Responding to the situation, the APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that the party had no problem with Atiku’s actions as long as he followed due process. He noted that the Nigerian law provides for freedom of information and the right to seek public domain information.
However, in an interview, Ibe interpreted the APC’s stance as abandonment of Tinubu due to controversies surrounding him. He criticized Tinubu’s claims about his educational history, stating that his identity was enshrouded in controversy.
Ibe further mentioned that Tinubu’s assertion of a clerical error on his certificate implied it was fake. He also challenged Tinubu’s statement that some certificates were lost due to past political situations.
Osadolor, a loyalist of Atiku and member of the PDP’s National Executive Committee, commended the APC’s Director of Publicity for his position, suggesting that he was aware of the truth but avoided acknowledging it publicly.
This exchange highlights the ongoing political rivalry and allegations surrounding President Tinubu’s academic records and raises questions about transparency and credibility in public figures’ educational backgrounds.