Omokri also corrected the impression that Atiku was his boss, insisting that he and the Adamawa State-born politician are friends.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigerian Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has countered a claim by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that President Bola Tinubu is 90 years old, insisting that records from the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) vindicate him.
He defended the president on Tuesday during an interview on the City Boy Movement’s media one-on-one podcast with Otega Ogra, a Senior Special Assistant to Tinubu on Digital and New Media.
Omokri was addressing an earlier assertion by the former Vice President during a BBC interview that he could prove President Tinubu is a nonagenarian.
Speaking during the chat, Atiku said: “You have a President who is 90 years old now and sick, and I am healthy and strong. So why won’t I make myself available to serve my country?
“You went and voted for someone who is 90 years old. I have evidence that President Tinubu is 90 years old, and I will present it in court.”
Dismissing the allegation, Omokri argued that a 2003 FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) record check, transmitted via the US Embassy in Lagos to Nigeria’s former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, explicitly recorded Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952.
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According to the former presidential aide, the document destroys claims by anyone that the “President is 90 years old.”
He also used the medium to correct the impression that Atiku was his boss, insisting that he and the Adamawa State-born politician are friends.
Speaking on the show, he said: “First of all, Atiku was never my principal; he’s my friend. I have a document here from the FBI via the American Embassy. At that time, it was in Lagos, and I can read it for you.
“It’s a letter to the Nigerian government and Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, at that time.
“In relation to your letter dated February 3, 2003, regarding Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a record check of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Crime Information Centre was conducted.
“The result of the check was negative for any criminal arrest records, wants or warrants for Bola Tinubu.
“Another thing is that this is just a complete vindication of Tinubu. But notice that the FBI records have the President’s date of birth, which is March 29, 1952. So, this document destroys anybody trying to say that the President is 90 years old.”
