Various news outlets and blogs, irrespective of their stance on Bola Tinubu, have been selectively reporting on the recently released documents from Chicago State University. These documents were handed over to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. As an impartial observer, I have examined these documents and uncovered six significant details:
1. Tinubu’s Attendance and Graduation from Chicago State University
Chicago State University’s Office of the Registrar confirmed that Bola A. Tinubu did, in fact, attend the university from August 1977 to June 1979. Moreover, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Honors on June 22, 1979. This affirmation was made under oath by the registrar, underscoring the legal implications of providing false information.
2. Inconsistencies in Tinubu’s Certificate
It has been discovered that the certificate or diploma submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not align with the certificates issued by Chicago State University in 1979 and subsequent years. This raises questions about the authenticity of Tinubu’s submitted certificate and suggests the possibility of forgery. It is worth noting that diplomas are not typically required by most employers in the United States; instead, the verification of attendance and graduation is commonly done through official transcripts from the university.
3. Tinubu’s Southwest College Transcript Belongs to a Female
The transcript from Southwest College, which Tinubu used to gain admission to Chicago State University, is associated with a female student. Despite the many errors present in this transcript, including incorrect dates and a social security number, further clarification is needed from Chicago State University regarding its authenticity. This finding gives credence to unverified rumors that Tinubu assumed the identity of a female, Bola Adekunle Tinubu, to pursue education in the United States.
4. The Addressing Issue in Tinubu’s Admission Letter
Tinubu’s admission letter from Chicago State University, dated August 23, 1977, was addressed to “Mr. Tinubu,” not indicating a gender-specific title like “Miss” or “Ms.” This raises questions as to whether the gender discrepancy in the Southwest College transcript was a clerical error or an attempt to cover up the situation. It is noteworthy that Tinubu identified and presented himself as a male throughout his time at the university, as confirmed by a fellow Nigerian graduate who provided an affidavit.
5. The Questionable Origin of Tinubu’s GCE A-level Result
The GCE A-level result submitted by “Bola A. Tinubu” during his application to Southwest College in 1975 raises doubts about its authenticity. This result shows that Tinubu claimed to have attended Government College, Lagos, which was founded in 1974. Such a chronological mismatch suggests the possibility of forgery or an error in the documents. Further investigation is needed to establish the truth.
6. Discrepancies in Tinubu’s Recorded Birthday
Tinubu publicly states that he was born on March 29, 1952. However, his transcripts from Chicago State University record his birthday as March 29, 1954. Notably, the Southwest College transcript he submitted to Chicago State University does not indicate his birthday. These inconsistencies, along with the absence of his secondary school education records, contribute to suspicions surrounding the authenticity of the transcript.
Bonus: Several misspellings of Tinubu’s last name were found in some of the Chicago State University documents. While the “THUBV” misspelling in his final graduation record is significant, the inclusion of “Tinububu” in one document is quite amusing. It is worth noting that “Bubu” is a nickname often used by Nigerians to refer to President Buhari.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his perseverance, which has played a vital role in shedding light on Tinubu’s educational background.
Follow Farooq Kperogi on Twitter: @farooqkperogi
