Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged an independent investigation into the academic and professional records of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet members following the resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Atiku said Nnaji’s resignation on Tuesday revealed a “deep moral and ethical crisis” within the Tinubu administration. He accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of failing in its duty to properly vet government appointees and alleged that forgery had become “state policy” under the current leadership.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described Nnaji’s exit as a “national disgrace.” He faulted the government’s claim that the minister resigned voluntarily, arguing that Nnaji should have been dismissed and prosecuted for alleged falsification of records.
“By allowing him to slip away quietly, the Tinubu administration has again shown itself as a gathering of forgers and impostors masquerading as public servants,” Atiku said.
He further criticized the DSS for its alleged double standards, recalling that the agency once blocked former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai from ministerial confirmation on security grounds but failed to apply similar scrutiny to Nnaji.
“The DSS deserves our flowers for this national embarrassment,” Atiku remarked sarcastically. “Their failure of due diligence has made Nigeria a laughingstock before the world.”
Atiku linked the controversy to what he described as a “pattern of deceit” rooted in Tinubu’s own contested identity and academic records. He referenced the long-standing debates over the president’s Chicago State University certificate and past inconsistencies in his official documents.
“When a man of questionable identity leads a nation, deception becomes the standard of governance,” he stated.
The former vice president called for a thorough probe into the credentials of all Federal Executive Council members, starting with President Tinubu. He maintained that Nigerians have the right to know the truth about those who govern them.
“Until this cleansing is carried out,” Atiku warned, “Nigeria will continue to sink deeper into moral decay, economic ruin, and global embarrassment.”
