The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a challenge to President Bola Tinubu and his team to stop chasing shadows and address the numerous controversies surrounding him. At a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, a team of Atiku’s aides, led by Paul Ibe, called on Tinubu to spare Nigeria’s image further damage by coming clean on these allegations.
The media advisers pointed out that Tinubu’s team seems fixated on an insignificant alleged discrepancy in the day/date of an affidavit that Atiku filed over 50 years ago to officially change his name. They emphasized that since the discovery of documents at Chicago State University which exposed a series of certificate forgeries and impersonation by Tinubu, his media aides have attempted to deflect attention by creating a parallel narrative about Atiku’s public life.
They stated, “Right from the beginning, it was evident that what Tinubu’s media aides and supporters were doing was a fruitless attempt to tarnish Atiku Abubakar’s public profile. They searched tirelessly for a loophole until they stumbled upon the affidavit that Atiku deposed to on August 18, 1973, which happened to be signed on a Saturday. And behold! The APC e-rats had found what they were looking for.”
Atiku’s team went on to highlight the more crucial issues that should be of concern, such as Tinubu being named after a female, his submission of a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, and his role as a Guinea pig student at Government College, Lagos. They emphasized that rather than addressing these serious allegations, Tinubu’s team focused solely on finding a flaw in Atiku Abubakar’s public profile.
In response to the frenzy surrounding the Saturday signature on Atiku’s affidavit, Atiku’s team drew a parallel to the famous Elton John album titled “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.” They criticized Tinubu’s team for disregarding decency and wallowing in their own naked state, finding solace in their futile discoveries. However, they remained steadfast in their support for Atiku and emphasized that their research into the registry of Lagos State high courts in 1973 revealed that court papers were indeed signed on Saturdays.
They stated, “As practitioners of democracy, particularly someone who aspires to be President, it is imperative to maintain a high level of integrity, trust, and transparency. The President should embody the values that our country stands for, and Nigeria stands against forgeries and impersonation.”
Consequently, the challenge was extended to Tinubu to follow Atiku’s example and dispel any doubts surrounding his past. Atiku’s team urged Tinubu to publicly present his 1970 certificate, which he used to seek admission into Chicago State University, and to disclose the location of the business center in Oluwole Market where he allegedly printed the forged certificate submitted to INEC.
In the event that Tinubu is reluctant to come forward due to potential skeletons in his closet, Atiku’s team encouraged him to confide in them and share the nature of these skeletons. They highlighted the embarrassing fact that the FBI and other US anti-crime agencies are preparing to release information about President Tinubu, which could cause irreparable damage to Nigeria’s reputation.
Atiku’s team concluded by emphasizing that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law in Nigeria. They called on Tinubu’s team to put an end to the “kindergarten Tom and Jerry” games that have brought nothing but embarrassment and humiliation to the nation and its people.
