The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Political Parties for Good Governance has offered insights into why President Bola Tinubu may not personally engage with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, concerning the controversy surrounding his academic credentials from Chicago State University.
Allegations of certificate forgery have stirred debate in Nigeria, with Atiku and Obi calling on President Tinubu to address the matter. Findwhosabi reported that Atiku and Obi filed 86 grounds of appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal’s judgment affirming Tinubu’s victory.
Dr. Ene Ogbole, the convener of the coalition, explained that President Tinubu and those close to him may not respond directly to Atiku and Obi due to the manner in which they have approached the issue. Ogbole praised the President for showing maturity, decorum, and sportsmanship in handling the matter.
According to Ogbole, the President is a man of experience who knows when to respond to questions and when to remain silent. She cited the President’s track record and his ability to handle the situation with calm and intelligence.
Ogbole also pointed out that the institution involved, Chicago State University, had confirmed the authenticity of President Tinubu’s academic records. She mentioned that international media outlets, like the BBC, had also conducted inquiries and found no wrongdoing.
She emphasized that President Tinubu had submitted valid academic certificates and information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Therefore, doubting the validity of his submissions based on unfounded speculations from Atiku and Obi is considered irresponsible.
In summary, the coalition expressed confidence in the authenticity of President Tinubu’s academic credentials and suggested that any doubts should be substantiated with evidence. They described Atiku and Obi’s actions as irresponsible and baseless.