Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called for a thorough and independent verification of the academic and professional credentials of all members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, including the president himself.
Atiku made this demand in a statement issued on Wednesday, following the resignation of Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, whose appointment came under scrutiny after reports alleged he presented forged academic and NYSC certificates.
“Tuesday’s resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has once again brought to light the deep moral crisis at the heart of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. What should ordinarily be a matter of national shame is now being disguised as a ‘voluntary resignation’, an attempt to whitewash yet another scandal that typifies the forgery-ridden character of this government,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president linked Nnaji’s case to a wider pattern, alleging that the crisis of forged documentation begins at the highest level of government.
“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. Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who preside over their lives and resources,” he said.
He added that Nnaji’s resignation was not an isolated incident, but a symptom of deeper rot.
“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,” Atiku said.
Citing the ongoing controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s academic history with Chicago State University, Atiku criticised what he described as an entrenched culture of dishonesty within the administration.
“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,” he stated.
Atiku also called for the prosecution of Uche Nnaji over certificate forgery and condemned the State Security Service (SSS) for what he described as a failure in their vetting process, which allowed Nnaji’s appointment.
“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?” Atiku said.
The presidency had earlier confirmed Nnaji’s resignation, days after reports surfaced that the former minister had been cleared by the SSS despite questions over his credentials. The former minister claimed he was the victim of blackmail, a narrative Atiku dismissed as part of a broader attempt to cover up systemic misconduct.
