Abuja, Nigeria – The Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to provide full disclosure about his educational background and personal identity to the Nigerian public.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the former governor of Anambra State urged Tinubu to share comprehensive information about the schools he attended, his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and whether he underwent any name changes at any point in his life.
Obi emphasized that transparency is essential for the avoidance of doubts and international embarrassment, and he implored Tinubu to introduce himself to the nation and the world unequivocally.
“Mr. Tinubu should tell the nation his true name, the school he attended, where he served, and the certificate he obtained. He must do this task once and now,” Obi stated.
This call follows a recent development where a United States court ordered Chicago State University to release Bola Tinubu’s academic records, at the request of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. Atiku had sought the release of Tinubu’s certificate, raising concerns about its authenticity, as it was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to Obi, the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s identity has had negative repercussions on Nigeria’s international image, potentially branding every Nigerian as a certificate forger or identity thief. He argued that such unwarranted disputes could have been averted, especially given Tinubu’s standing as a former governor and a presidential aspirant.
“In my opinion, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu should have saved the nation and himself this protracted embarrassment and undue anxiety. Chief Ahmed Bola 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.
“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 emphasized.
This request from a presidential candidate adds further intrigue to the ongoing debate surrounding Bola Tinubu’s personal history, which has attracted significant attention in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.