Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has criticised Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate who won the 2023 presidential election, for not addressing the “sensitive” issue of his “true identity” himself.
Bellnews reports that Obi, in a world press conference held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, said Tinubu should have saved himself and Nigeria the embarrassment of having to rely on surrogates to defend him on the issue.
“Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu should have saved himself and Nigeria this embarrassment,” Obi said.
“The world now see Nigerians as a fraudster,certificate forger and identity thief because of what Bola Ahmed Tinubu did at Chicago State University.”
The former Anambra State governor said, “He should introduce himself to the nation he governs, and to the world for avoidance of further doubt.
“He should let the world know his name, his nationality, his place of birth, his current age, the primary and secondary schools he attended with dates, as well as the actual universities he attended and certificates he obtained.
“He should indicate clearly when and where he did his national youth service. In addition, if he had a change of name, he should state so clearly the time and circumstances.
“This is a simple task that will only take a few minutes. It requires no affidavit, prolonged talk process, spokespersons, agents or surrogates.
“The task is only Chief Bola Tinubu himself through a direct personal statement can perform. He must perform this task urgently. He has to lay to rest many lingering doubts and speculations about his true identity.”
Obi’s comments come after Chicago State University (CSU) released documents that showed discrepancies in Tinubu’s date of birth, gender, and other information.
Obi’s criticism of Tinubu is similar to that of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who also lost the 2023 election to Tinubu. Abubakar held a similar press conference on Thursday, October 5, 2023, in which he questioned Tinubu’s identity.
Atiku had called on Obi, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other Nigerians to join his quest for “justice” in controversy around President Tinubu’s certificate.
Atiku requested Tinubu’s CSU certificate after suspecting the authenticity of the one Tinubu submitted to INEC.