Former Deputy National Publicity
Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has urged
the United States to cause Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release his
Chicago State University academic records to a court in Nigeria.
He said this would help douse
tension and clear doubts, adding that it would also be in the spirit of
reciprocity and freedom of information obtainable in the United States of
America.
In a statement on Wednesday, he called on President Tinubu to cooperate in allowing his
acclaimed Chicago State University to release his academic records if he has
nothing to hide.
He said Tinubu, as a public servant, ought not to stop the release of his academic records, including his certificate, through a Court, as the citizens have the right to know all about their leaders.
Recall that Tinubu had filed a
motion seeking to prevent a United States Federal Court from releasing his
university academic records to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as
requested by the latter.
Lamenting, Frank said the US is
playing double standards in releasing Tinubu’s academic records, an issue so
serious in their country but taken with levity because it concerns Nigeria, an
African nation.
“Barely two days after former
Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP)
approached the State District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
subpoenaed the Chicago State University to release the records of Tinubu, it is
rather shocking that the President has countered the request by filling a
counter motion to restrain the Court from releasing his academic records to the
petitioner.
“What seems to be more worrisome
is the idea that a sitting President who had sworn to uphold the integrity and
sanctity of the Presidential office would attempt to muzzle an independent
judiciary of the United States through acts of coercion or frivolous motions
unknown to the Justice Department,” he said.
Frank reminded the US of their
effective justice system, which gave credence to the trial of the former
President of the United States, Donald Trump, over alleged misconduct while in
office.
He insisted that Tinubu shouldn’t
have approached a US Court to stop the release of his academic records: “What
are you hiding in the Chicago University? If you are proud of your credentials,
tell the University you claimed to have attended to release your academic
information to Nigeria as requested by Atiku.
“This is simply the right thing
to do because when a subpoena has been issued, it’s meant to be honoured
anywhere.
“For anybody who wants to lead
Nigeria, you should be able to surrender yourself to Nigerians for scrutiny as
that is the minimum standard expected and I’m aware Alh. Atiku is not doing
anything extraordinary against the law.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com