CURRENT REPORT BLOG ”After closely monitoring the prolonged identity crisis recently witnessed in the American Court System and the controversy surrounding the authenticity of Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s credentials from the Chicago State University, I must admit that my concern as a Nigerian has deepened.
Aside from the overwhelming media coverage this matter has generated, I have also had the uncomfortable responsibility of addressing embarrassing inquiries regarding Nigeria’s overall credibility to various audiences both domestically and internationally during my recent travels around the world.
To external observers, the entire CSU issue, along with the persistent questions about Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s identity, has further tarnished Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage. Uninformed individuals from other nations now tend to view every Nigerian as a potential fraudster, a likely forger, or an identity thief. This controversy is avoidable, and the implicit global embarrassment could have been prevented.
In my view, Chief Bola Tinubu should have spared the nation and himself from this drawn-out embarrassment and undue anxiety. Even at this late juncture, he still holds an obligation to the nation and the world that only he can fulfill. I call upon him to step forward without delay and personally address the concerns surrounding his identity once and for all. He should reintroduce himself to the nation he governs and to the world to eliminate any lingering doubts. He should disclose his name, nationality, place of birth, parentage, details of his primary and secondary education, and the universities he attended, along with the certificates he obtained. He should clearly state when and where he completed his National Youth Service. Moreover, if he ever underwent a name change, he should openly acknowledge it and provide the circumstances. Such an act is not a crime and should be a straightforward process that takes only a few minutes. It requires no affidavits, protracted legal proceedings, spokespersons, agents, or proxies. This is a task that Chief Bola Tinubu must personally undertake through a direct, unambiguous statement. It should be done promptly to put an end to the lingering doubts and valid speculations about his true identity.
A leader cannot delegate the responsibility of providing a clear and unambiguous statement about their identity to political surrogates, spokespersons, lawyers, or any other individuals, regardless of their standing. Matters related to a leader’s personal identity are too sensitive and central to the duties of their current office to be outsourced, disguised under officialdom, or tried by others. It is about integrity, morality, values, and adherence to the rule of law, which shape the character of the nation and its people. In his current role as the leader of a nation with over 200 million Nigerians, Chief Bola Tinubu’s true identity is a matter of profound national and international interest.
The public has a legitimate right to know with certainty the true identity of their leader, which takes precedence over any rights to personal privacy that he may assert. Furthermore, the international community has a right to be informed about the true identity of the person they will engage with in Nigeria. Having contested for the prestigious public office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Bola Tinubu has implicitly agreed to relinquish the rights of a private citizen in favor of a life marked by transparency regarding his true identity and other circumstances of public interest. His personal integrity dictates no less. The legitimacy of the office he currently holds demands as much and even more. Upholding the integrity and reputation of the Nigerian nation within the global community underscores the necessity and obligation of such disclosure.
