- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded fresh probe into the academic and professional credentials of President Bola Tinubu and all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
This is coming after the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over alleged certificate forgery.
NPO Reported that Nnaji had yesterday tendered his resignation letter to Tinubu days after an investigative report by Premium Times revealed that he forged his bachelor of science degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) as well as his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
In the wake of his resignation, Atiku had in a statement issued on his official X handle on Wednesday slammed the Tinubu-led administration for allowing Nnaji to resign rather than dismissing and prosecuting him.
He described the development as a national shame and attempt to whitewash another scandal which typified the allegedly forgery-ridden character of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
Atiku further described the scandal as a reflection of pattern as he recalled the controversies surrounding the academic certificates and bio data of Tinubu.
“By permitting him to quietly exit through the backdoor, the Tinubu administration has once again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.
“This episode is not isolated. It is a reflection of a pattern, a rot that begins from the very top.
“The man who occupies the office of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has for decades been enmeshed in controversies surrounding his identity, age, and academic records.
“From the Chicago State University saga to multiple contradictory claims under oath, the world has seen ample evidence that Nigeria today is led by a man who himself has been unable to credibly defend the authenticity of his own certificates.” Atiku said.
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential candidate labelled Tinubu a man of questionable character who have allegedly institutionalised falsehood in the public service.
He thereafter called for an independent and transparent investigation on Tinubu and all FEC members.
“When a man of questionable identity leads a country, deception becomes the standard of governance. Tinubu’s personal history of alleged forgery and perjury has effectively institutionalized falsehood in public service.
“It is, therefore, unsurprising that his ministers and aides have taken after his example by falsifying documents, inflating records, and desecrating the moral foundation of our nation.
“I, therefore, call for an independent, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council, beginning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself.” He said.
Atiku further faulted the Department of State Services (DSS) for not doing diligent investigation and screen out Nnaji before the approval of his appointment just as it had screened out El-Rufai over alleged security concern.
“What makes this even more embarrassing is that the same Department of State Services (DSS) which screened out Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for alleged “security concerns” is the very agency that cleared this same character, Uche Nnaji.
“The DSS truly deserves our flowers for this national disgrace. Their failure of due diligence has made Nigeria an object of ridicule before the world and raises the question: how many more of such individuals are occupying sensitive positions in this government?” He asked.
Atiku maintained that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who preside over their lives and resources.
He held that until this cleansing is done, Nigeria will continue to sink deeper into moral decay, economic ruin, and global embarrassment.