APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to save Nigeria and himself from “protracted embarrassment and undue anxiety” over the controversy surrounding his certificates.
Obi said at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja that President Tinubu should tell Nigerians the schools he attended and if he participated in the one-year National Youth Service Corps scheme after graduation.
Reacting to the ongoing controversy over Tinubu’s certificates and the order made by a United States court on the Chicago State University (CSU) to release Tinubu’s academic records at the request of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Obi also urged Tinubu to clarify if he indeed changed his name at any time and save the country from what he called an international embarrassment of identity crisis.
“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 and the world the 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.
“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,” local media reports on Thursday quoted Obi as saying.
According to Obi, the entire Chicago University matter as well as “Tinubu’s many other lingering identity question marks have further worsened Nigeria’s less-than-glorious image internationally.”
He said that uninformed outsiders now see every Nigerian as a fraudster, certificate forger or identity thief, adding that the controversy is unnecessary, just as the implicit global embarrassment could have been avoided.
Obi, who was declared third in the presidential election by the Nigerian electoral body has challenged the victory of Tinubu at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, who was declared second during the presidential election is also challenging the victory of Tinubu at the Nigerian apex court.
GIK/APA
Certificates Saga: Obi urges President Tinubu to save Nigeria from further embarrassment
