Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, including the President himself.
Atiku’s demand follows the resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who stepped down amid allegations of certificate forgery. The former minister, who insists his resignation is not an admission of guilt, announced his exit on Tuesday after controversy erupted over the authenticity of his academic qualifications.
Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Leadership Integrity
Reacting to the development on Wednesday, Atiku said the scandal reflects a deeper moral crisis within the Tinubu administration. He alleged that the issue of forged documents among public officials stems from a lack of integrity at the highest level of government.
Atiku also questioned the credibility of President Tinubu’s own academic history, referencing long-standing controversies surrounding his identity, age, and educational records. He maintained that the alleged inconsistencies linked to the President have set a precedent that encourages unethical conduct within his administration.
He described the certificate saga as part of a pattern that, in his words, has weakened public trust in leadership and reduced accountability across government institutions.
DSS Screening Process Under Scrutiny
The former vice president also criticised the Department of State Services (DSS), faulting its vetting process for failing to detect the alleged irregularities in Nnaji’s credentials before his appointment. Atiku said the same agency that previously raised security objections against other political nominees must now explain how Nnaji was cleared despite the controversy surrounding his records.
He further argued that the government’s decision to allow the minister a “voluntary resignation” rather than a dismissal sends the wrong signal, adding that the handling of the case exposes what he called a culture of leniency towards corruption and deceit.
Atiku reiterated his call for a full and transparent inquiry into the qualifications of all Federal Executive Council members, beginning with President Tinubu, to restore public confidence in governance.
The former vice president stated that Nigerians deserve to know the true backgrounds of those holding key positions, especially given the recurring controversies over document falsification and identity claims in recent appointments.
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