Atiku says APC ‘abandons’ Tinubu to his ‘litany of controversies’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of “abandoning” Bola Tinubu in the lawsuit he filed against the President in the United States to subpoena his Chicago State University records.
Atiku asked the court to approve his request for Tinubu’s records because they would clarify inconsistencies in his background, including those showing CSU in the 1970s admitted a “female” student bearing the name “Bola A. Tinubu” who was born on 29 March 1954.
The Bola Tinubu, a man, who is now President, disclosed in the forms he submitted to the National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he was born on 29 March 1952, according to papers filed at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Nigeria, where Atiku is challenging Tinubu’s election
Tinubu claimed in the US court case that a “clerical error” was responsible for the “discrepancies” in the certificate issued to him by CSU.
Filings by Tinubu’s lawyers Oluwole Afolabi and Christopher Carmichael said an unidentified CSU clerk made the error in the date the school stated in his recently-issued certificate, creating “the appearance of differences.”
The claim is in their response to the lawsuit filed by Atiku seeking release of Tinubu’s academic records from the university.
Tinubu claims he holds a Bachelor of science degree in business administration from CSU but Atiku alleged Tinubu’s academic records were forged.
Peoples Gazette reports Tinubu’s statement was filed on August 23 by his counsel as part of his argument before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.
Judge Jeffrey Gilbert had given Tinubu until August 23 to make a formal filing on why his records should not be released to Atiku.
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APC says Atiku did not follow due process in court case
APC Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim said the party has no problem with Atiku’s quest if he follows due process, according to The PUNCH.
Ibrahim clarified that “If Chicago State University says Atiku has to go to court, I don’t know what their law says about that.
“But in Nigeria, I know the law gives freedom of information and gives people the right to seek information, especially the one that ought to be in the public domain. I don’t know the situation in the US and what is legally correct about it.
“But Atiku has the right to ask for information pertaining to his opponent, provided he does not go through it the wrong way. What is the wrong way can best be answered by those who are conversant with the law.”
APC has abandoned Tinubu to his ‘litany of controversies’, Atiku says
Atiku countered through this his Media Aide Paul Ibe that the position of the APC shows it has abandoned Tinubu “owing to the litany of controversies surrounding him.”
He added: “We are not surprised that the party said they cannot have issues with us. This is an indication that they have abandoned him [Tinubu]. We are talking of a man whose identity is enmeshed in controversy. But the truth is, who won’t be tired?
“Everything about the man is shrouded in controversy. He claimed that he attended Government College, Ibadan but he never set foot in that school. The primary school Tinubu claimed he attended is non-existent.
“Now, he is saying that the 156-year-old Chicago State University made a clerical error in his academic records. If you are carrying a certificate with an error, that certificate is fake. So, he is admitting that he is carrying a fake certificate.”
Ibe insisted it is also untenable Tinubu’s claim he lost some of his certificates to Sani Abacha’s onslaught on democratic elements.
PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) member Timothy Osadolor said Ibrahim should be commended for his position.
“He knows the truth but doesn’t want to be quoted. Their principal’s academic records are shrouded in mystery and he knows the truth.
“But because it is not convenient for him to stay on the side of the truth, he chose to say he won’t join issues with Atiku” Osadolor added.