By Ishaya Ibrahim
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar, has said that the soul of late legal icon, Gani Fawehinmi, can now rest in peace following the discovery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago State University (CSU) record.
At a world press conference, Atiku recalled that 23 years ago, Gani Fawehinmi began the process of unravelling the mystery surrounding Tinubu’s educational claim in Chicago.
Recall that Tinubu’s records with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1999 when he sought to become Governor of Lagos State showed that he attended Government College Ibadan and the University of Chicago.
Gani Fawehinmi argued in court that the claims were false. But he could not proceed with the case because Tinubu enjoyed constitutional immunity as Governor of Lagos State.
Atiku said of Gani’s doggedness during the press conference: “Gani’s soul can now rest in peace. The task he started is now completed.”
Tinubu’s current challenge started when in his 2023 presidential quest, submitted to INEC certificate from CSU.
Atiku also paid tribute to investigative journalist, David Hundeyin and millions of other young Nigerians who continued to put the truth about Tinubu on social media even when nobody was listening.
Atiku said the quest against Tinubu was carried out to expose the truth. He appealed to his counterparts in the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join him in redeeming the image and respect of Nigeria as he takes the evidence he obtained from the U.S. to the Supreme Court.
During the questions and answer session, Atiku denied the claim that Tinubu was his benefactor.
He said it was true that in 2007, Tinubu offered him the Action Congress of Nigeria platform to contest the presidency. Atiku said shortly afterwards, Tinubu withdrew the support because he (Atiku) refused to accept Tinubu as his running mate. Atiku said Tinubu decided to support the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the candidate of the PDP in the election.
Atiku said in 2003, he was the one who prevailed against Obasanjo not to take Lagos State from Tinubu during the PDP tsunami in the South West. PDP swept all the states in the election except Lagos.
When asked if he was not worried about a backlash to his business interest in Nigeria by fighting the president, Atiku said whatever interest he had with the government was already terminated by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Atiku, none of his businesses has a relationship with the government.
On what exactly he discovered about Tinubu’s records, Atiku asked a lawyer to address the issues.
The lawyer, Kalu Kalu listed the issues, including;
- The Certificate Bola Tinubu submitted to INEC did not emanate from Chicago State University
- The Qualifying Certificate from South West College used by Tinubu to gain admission to CSU, bears female which clearly means it does not belong to him.
- In the CSU documents, Tinubu attended Government College Lagos and graduated in 1970. The said school came into existence only in 1974. It also means the Government College Lagos document is a forgery.
- In the CSU document, Tinubu has American citizenship. But Tinubu swore under oath in an INEC form that he does not have any citizenship other than Nigerian citizenship.
- In the CSU document, the initial ‘A’ in Tinubu’s name is Adekunle. Whereas, the ‘A’ in President Tinubu’s public record is Ahmed.
The lawyer also dismissed the claim that the evidence would not be admitted by the Supreme Court. He said in several rulings of the apex court, parties can present fresh evidence once certain conditions are met. He said the court cases in the U.S. has satisfied that requirement.