Tinubu’s certificate saga: Nigeria’s reputation at stake, do the right thing, Atiku tells Supreme Court Justices

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed deep concern about the potential damage to Nigeria’s reputation due to the controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s submitted certificate from Chicago State University to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

During a press briefing in Abuja, Atiku, who ran as the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and uncovering the truth regarding the President’s certificate submission.

He also urged the relevant stakeholders to uphold the tenets of democracy by establishing the truth about the certificate submitted to the electoral umpire by the President.

“The reputation of our country is at stake and that affects Nigerians everywhere and wherever they may be,” Atiku, who was Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, said while briefing journalists in Abuja.

He stressed that this issue goes beyond his personal interests and called on other political figures, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, as well as leaders from various sectors and all Nigerians who care about the country’s well-being, to join him in the quest for justice, truth, morality, and accountability in the nation’s public affairs.

Atiku also expressed his commitment to pursuing his petition related to this matter before the Supreme Court until it reaches a just conclusion.

In recent developments, Chicago State University released President Tinubu’s academic records following a court order, with the university’s registrar, Carl Westberg, depositing the documents as required.

This action followed a legal battle initiated by Atiku to obtain Tinubu’s academic records. Despite the release of these records, President Tinubu’s legal team maintained that the documents were irrelevant to Atiku’s appeal before the Supreme Court, leading to a review of the court’s order.

On the other hand, the Presidency argued that the academic records released by the university vindicated the President and confirmed his status as a graduate of the institution.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Affairs, Temitope Ajayi, clarified that Chicago State University had not stated that the certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission by Tinubu before the presidential election was forged.

Following the acquisition of President Tinubu’s academic records through the court’s directive, Atiku was set to file his application at the Supreme Court on Thursday, using these documents to support his election appeal against Tinubu. Atiku, who ran against Tinubu in the February presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party, intend to present the evidence obtained from Chicago State University to strengthen his case before the highest court.