Mr. Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the recent general election, has emphasized the importance of political officeholders in Nigeria having a verifiable identity and authentic credentials.
He made these remarks while speaking at the Chinua Achebe Symposium at Princeton University in the United States, where an ongoing case regarding President Bola Tinubu’s academic record has garnered attention.
Obi, who is among those challenging the tribunal’s decision to uphold Tinubu’s victory and had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, urged Nigerians to strive for a nation where leadership is defined by competence and a commitment to combating corruption.
He stressed the necessity of leaders in Africa’s largest economy adhering to the rule of law, stating, “We must have leadership that is committed to the rule of law… that has an identity and credentials that can be verified. We can start thinking of a new Nigeria with competence and capacity that is committed to fighting corruption. Is it possible to fight corruption? The answer is yes! The trouble with Nigeria is self-inflicted.
“If Achebe were alive, he would have taken back the book. When he wrote it, there was no trouble. Now, there is real trouble in Nigeria. Rascality has become a measure of success in Nigeria. That must change.”
Notably, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who contested the presidential election on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, is currently pursuing the academic and personal records of Tinubu, particularly from the Chicago State University (CSU).
A court ruling by Judge Geoffrey T. Gilbert favored Atiku’s request, ordering CSU to disclose Tinubu’s records. However, President Tinubu has urged the court not to grant all of Atiku’s requests.
Tinubu has since filed a motion, arguing that the district court’s order breached the U.S. Constitution by assuming the role of a final court in matters of discovery. He contended that a magistrate should only provide recommendations to the district judge in such cases, rather than making a final order for immediate compliance.