Alleged Certificate Forgery: My battle against Tinubu in Nigeria’s interest – Atiku
… Seven things Atiku’s lawyer revealed about Tinubu’s Chicago University certificate
… I’ll support Tinubu if Supreme Court rules in his favour – Atiku
.. Pitiful regurgitation of lies’ — APC faults Atiku’s press conference on Tinubu’s academic record
…. Tinubu sent governors to appeal to me after Presidential Election – Atiku
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has said that his battle against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in the general interest of the Nigerian nation.
He said at a world press conference held in Abuja on Thursday that the battle against the qualifications of Tinubu for the presidency was specifically aimed at installing good governance, accountability and probity in public service.
Atiku, who was accompanied at the briefing by some former state governors and PDP chieftains, vowed to fight the battle to a logical conclusion.
The PDP presidential candidate admitted that he was undertaking the battle at a great cost but said that there would be no going back until justice is manifestly done in the struggle.
Atiku thanked his local and international lawyers for their good battle in court and enjoined Nigerians who desire good governance, justice, accountability and probity to join them.
He appealed to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and that of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankasso to join him in the struggle to enthrone legitimate and lawful government for the country.
Atiku insisted that the nation needs a legitimate government at the moment in the interest of future generations, adding that Nigeria is bigger than any individual.
The former Vice President called on well meaning Nigerians to join the struggle, noting that it was the duty of leaders to advance the well-being of the people during this type of trying period.
Atiku’s statement read in part “Fellow Citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I consider it important to address and report to you today on issues that define the future of elective government and legitimate leadership in our country.
“Political leadership and active citizenship matter because they are ways through which we all work together to build a country that works for all who live in it.
“Our country is bigger than any of us, and its standing in the world affects the fate of all who come from or live in it. As leaders, it is our duty to advance the well-being of all our people and of the country.
“For this purpose, my generation worked hard to return the soldiers to the barracks and to defend the right of the people to elect and establish for ourselves a legitimate government.
“Our elections are established and governed by law and founded on the constitution from which leadership and government in Nigeria alone derive their legitimacy.
“The people look up to us as leaders to respect these rules and, where necessary, to defend them. This is what brings us here.
“Today, we are called upon again as a people to uphold and defend the ground rules of elective government in our country. The constitution prescribes the requirements for those who seek the highest elective office in the land.
“It should not take months or, indeed, decades, for the institutions concerned to be able to do their work in establishing the credibility of any certificates presented by candidates for public office.
“We undertook this journey at great cost and for important reasons. The ground rules for legitimate governance in our country need to be upheld, and the reputation of our country is at stake. That affects everyone, Nigerians everywhere.
“I am a democrat by conviction and a citizen of a country that I love. The issues at stake in this case require us once more to re-dedicate ourselves to both the country and our constitution.
“Now, we entrust these facts to us all as citizens and as leaders of the institutions charged with interpreting our constitution. I should thank the lawyers both in Nigeria and in the United States, who have assisted us in bringing clarity and definitive answers to these issues that appear to have defied our institutions for nearly a quarter of a century.
“I also want to extend my gratitude to Nigerian citizens and friends of Nigeria both within and beyond the shores of our country for their patience as we have sought to find the facts and establish the truth.
“I wish to pay tribute to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, who inspired us on this path of discovery. Now, he can truly rest in peace in the assurance that what he started about 23 years ago has come to fruition. Gani’s vindication today gives credence to the saying that no matter how fast a lie runs, the truth will someday overtake it.
“Former American President Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘If I had to choose between government without newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter’.
“From exposing the Watergate scandal and unravelling the dubious certificates of politicians, journalists have maintained eternal vigilance by bridging the gap and stepping in when other arms of government failed.
“It is for these reasons that commendation must be given to David Hundeyin, an independent journalist whose extraordinary work and those of many more young people like him has become a source of inspiration. Special thanks must be given to the millions of Nigerian youths and citizen journalists too who continue to put out the truth online even when no one is listening. Indeed, the price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance.
“They have put the country first in their firm commitment to unravel the truth and hold leaders accountable. This gives me the hope that we have worthy partners in the struggle to reclaim the country we call home.
“This quest is not for or about Atiku Abubakar. It is a quest for the enthronement of truth, morality, and accountability in our public affairs.
“In line with this, therefore, I am calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, our religious leaders, our traditional leaders, our community leaders, our political leaders, and in particular, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and the leaders of every political party in Nigeria, and, indeed, every single person who loves this country, as I do, and who wishes nothing but the best for the country, as I do, to join me in this campaign to enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice, morality and uprightness in our country and in our government.”
Tinubu Submits forged certificate- Atiku’s Lawyer
A lawyer to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of submitting a forged degree certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the exercise.
The lawyer, Kalu Kalu, said this on Thursday during a press conference held by Atiku after the Chicago State University released the President’s academic records to him.
Although the President and his supporters have denied the allegations, Mr Kalu explained that the released document backs the forgery claims.
Asked what the documents show, he said, “One, that Bola Ahmed Tinubu forged the certificate he presented to INEC. That, two, that the qualifying certificate from South West College to Chicago State University bears a female name indicating that that document does not belong to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Three, the Chicago State University admission form has a claim that Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended Government College Lagos and graduated in 1970 when indeed the school was established in 1974.
“The same document has it that the owner of that document is a black American and (in) the document Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted to INEC, he denied having dual citizenship which means it does not belong to him. Then, the same document, oral deposition, said the A in Bola A Tinubu is Ahmed but the NYSC certificate Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted to INEC has Adekunle. I don’t know where Adekunle emerged from.”
Former Vice President Abubakar is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Tinubu’s election after the Presidential Election Tribunal dismissed his petition.
As part of his move to overturn the result, he successfully filed a case in the US and his legal team received the academic records of the President which has been the subject of controversy.
When Mr Kalu was asked at the press conference what value he expected the documents received to have at the Supreme Court, he said, “It is very, very clear that from decided authorities, the Supreme Court has held that they can accept a party to adduce fresh evidence as long as certain conditions are met and from what transpired in proceedings in US courts, that condition has been met.
“So, as we speak, our law is very clear that a party at fault cannot be allowed to enjoy the fruits of its illegality.”
Atiku Rallies Obi, Kwankwaso
Meanwhile, Atiku has called on Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Rabiu Kwankwaso to join in his quest for justice over the matter.
According to him, his move is for a better Nigeria, calling on well-meaning citizens to also join the campaign.
“Let me call on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thoughts, our religious, traditional, community and political leaders and in particular, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and the leaders of every political party in Nigeria and indeed every single person who loves this country as I do and who wishes nothing but the best for this country as I do, to join me in this campaign to enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice, morality, and uprightness in our country and in our government. This is a task for every one of us,” he said at the event.
Seven things Atiku’s lawyer revealed about Tinubu’s Chicago University certificate
This is the summarized allegations from Atiku’s lawyer, Kalu Kalu, while answering questions from journalists:
— Tinubu forged the CSU certificate submitted to INEC.
— The Southwest College Certificate he used to apply to CSU bears ‘Female’ as gender.
— His CSU admission form indicates that he attended Govt College and graduated in 1970 whereas the school was established in 1974.
— The documents used in applying to CSU belong to a black American Female.
— On his INEC form, Tinubu denied having dual citizenship, therefore the admission letter can’t possibly belong to him.
— The documents indicate that the initial ‘A’ in Bola A Tinubu is ‘Ahmed’ but is ‘Adekunle’ on the NYSC certificate he tendered.
— The Supreme Court can accept new evidence if the requirements are met and Atiku has met all the requirements.
I’ll drop fight against Tinubu if Supreme Court rules in his favour – Atiku
Meanwhile, The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar said he would only drop his fight with President Bola Tinubu if the Supreme Court rules in the President’s favour.
When asked if he would ever step down the legal battle against President Tinubu, Atiku replied, “The case is still in court. I’ll only drop this fight if the court rules. If the court rules that I’m right, fine, if the court rules that Tinubu is right, fine. There’s no other court higher than the Supreme Court. That is where it all ends.”
I didn’t betray Tinubu
Meanwhile, Atiku also disproved allegations that he betrayed Tinubu, who many see as his former political ally.
His words, “I disagree with Tinubu, yes it’s true that we came together in 2007. In Lagos, at the convention, I emerged winner and got the party’s ticket. After I got the ticket, he sent me about five or six senior party men, and they met me and said Bola (Tinubu) wanted to be my running mate.
“I said, gentlemen, you are all old enough, and asked, what would be your reaction to having a Muslim-Muslim ticket?
“They all answered that they objected to it, I then told them they should have told him and that was the end of the political relationship; he (Tinubu) broke away, and supported Umaru Yar’Adua. So what is the ground for him to say I betrayed him?
“In 2003, the PDP took over all the southwestern states with the exception of Lagos. I stood between Obasanjo and Tinubu and told Obasanjo to leave Lagos, and he left it. I vehemently deny that I stabbed Tinubu in the back.
“Till today, I won’t do a Muslim-Muslim ticket; I don’t have to be president; we are a multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, and our government must reflect our diversity, and our composition must reflect the same.”
Background – Tinubu-Atiku’s legal feud on CSU academic record
Recall Atiku had secured the release of Tinubu’s education records from the CSU through a court subpoena, against the disclosure by the President.
The released records, which came first on October 3 and a deposition on Tuesday, showed that Tinubu’s 1979 CSU certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was different from samples of the certificates the University issued to students that same year.
Under oath, CSU Registrar said he could not authenticate the certificate Tinubu presented to INEC.
Tinubu sent governors to appeal to me after Presidential Election – Atiku
Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said he refused to meet with a delegation allegedly sent by President Bola Tinubu
Atiku said that some governors claimed to have been sent by Tinubu immediately after the election and wanted to see him, but he refused to let them into his house.
Immediately after the elections, I was told there was a delegation of governors who claimed they were sent by the president, and I did not even allow them to get into my house – I didn’t,” Atiku added.
“I will only drop the fight when the court rules. If the court rules that I am right, fine. If the court rules that he is right, fine. So that’s the end of the fight, because, at the moment, we are the Supreme Court, and there is no other higher court than the Supreme Court.”
Atiku also called on Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), to join him in the fight to establish the authenticity of Tinubu’s certificate.
‘Pitiful regurgitation of lies’ — APC faults Atiku’s press conference on Tinubu’s academic record
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the press conference held by Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last elections, was filled with “pitiful regurgitation of lies”.
In a statement by Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of APC, the ruling party said Atiku’s quest for the academic record of Tinubu has shown his deep animosity that Tinubu was responsible for his serial electoral loss since 2007.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) is unfazed by the press conference addressed by former Vice President and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar earlier today,” the statement reads.
“The press conference lacked purpose and delivered nothing except the pitiful regurgitation of lies, mindless distortions and deliberate falsehood on his infantile obsession with the academic record of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“For several weeks now, Nigerians and the world have watched with incredulity Alhaji Abubakar’s display of utter desperation in his failed bid to become the President of Nigeria.
“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar holds the unenviable title of Nigeria’s most prolific election loser and longest-running presidential candidate in history, and we see his recent US fishing expedition as the last kick of a roundly rejected presidential aspirant. “
The APC spokesperson said Atiku’s inquiry into Tinubu’s academic record has taken a negative toll on the image of Nigeria.
