Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for a comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional records of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet members.
Atiku made the call in a statement shared on his official X handle on Wednesday, following the resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Nnaji resigned after a Premium Times investigation revealed that he did not complete his university education and that the degree and NYSC certificate he submitted for ministerial screening were forged.
Reacting to the controversy, Atiku described Nnaji’s resignation as an attempt to cover up a “national disgrace,” accusing the Tinubu administration of turning forgery into “state policy.”
He also slammed the Department of State Services (DSS) for clearing Nnaji during screening, saying the agency failed in its due diligence.
“Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. By permitting him to quietly exit, the Tinubu administration has once again shown that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants,” Atiku wrote.
The 2023 PDP presidential candidate further claimed the scandal reflected a pattern of deceit that begins with Tinubu himself, whom he accused of long-standing controversies over his identity, age, and academic records.
“This episode is not isolated,” Atiku said. “It mirrors a rot that starts from the top. The man occupying the office of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has for decades been entangled in disputes about his background and certificates.”
He urged an independent and transparent inquiry into the credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council, starting with Tinubu, warning that failure to do so would deepen Nigeria’s “moral decay and global embarrassment.”
“The time has come to rescue our country from deceit and restore integrity to public service,” he added.
