Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of leading a government steeped in deceit, following the resignation of Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who was exposed for forging a University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate.
A Premium Times investigation revealed discrepancies in Nnaji’s credentials, confirming that UNN never issued him a certificate. Nnaji resigned on Tuesday, with the Federal Government calling it “voluntary,” a move that has sparked widespread public outrage.
In a statement titled “Forgery As State Policy: Tinubu, His Cabinet, And The DSS Must Be Held Accountable,” Atiku described the incident as a “national scandal” that exposes a “deep moral crisis” in Tinubu’s administration. “Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation.
He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification,” Atiku said. “By permitting him to quietly exit through the backdoor, the Tinubu administration has once again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.”
Atiku also criticized the Department of State Services (DSS) for clearing Nnaji despite rejecting other nominees, like Nasir el-Rufai, for alleged security concerns. “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,” he said.Linking the scandal to broader issues, Atiku claimed Tinubu’s own controversies over his identity, age, and academic records set a precedent for such deceit. “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,” he said, citing the Chicago State University saga and “multiple contradictory claims under oath.” He added, “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.”
Atiku called for an independent investigation into the credentials of all Federal Executive Council members, starting with Tinubu. “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,” he said.
He warned that without addressing this issue, Nigeria risks further decline. “Until this cleansing is done, Nigeria will continue to sink deeper into moral decay, economic ruin, and global embarrassment. The time has come to rescue our country from the grip of deceit and restore integrity to public life,” Atiku concluded.