Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of misleading Nigerians over his academic past, demanding full disclosure following Tinubu’s recent claim that a Belarusian businessman, widely believed to be Alex Zingman, was his classmate at Chicago State University (CSU).
The controversy began on Monday during the launch of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme in Abuja, where Tinubu introduced “Alex” as a former neighbour and fellow CSU student.
“Alex was my very good neighbour and went to the same school with me in Chicago,” Tinubu had said during the live event.
But Atiku, citing publicly available information, pointed out a major inconsistency: Zingman was born in 1966, making him just 13 years old in 1979 — the year Tinubu claims to have graduated from CSU with a degree in Business Administration.
“Nigerians deserve to know why a man born in 1966 is being paraded as your classmate who graduated in 1979,” Atiku said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Were you in the same classroom or in different decades? This inconsistency raises deeply troubling questions.”
Beyond the age mismatch, Atiku raised red flags about Zingman’s alleged links to arms trafficking and shadowy business activities across Africa, stating that Tinubu’s association with such a figure “undermines the integrity of the presidency.”
“This is not just about an academic certificate, but about the character and company of the man who leads 200 million people,” he said.
“The presidency is not a place for secrets or shady associations. Nigerians demand facts, not fiction.”
Tinubu’s academic history has long been a source of public debate, with questions swirling around conflicting school records, missing transcripts, and altered certificates. While Chicago State University has confirmed Tinubu’s attendance and graduation in past correspondence, critics — including Atiku — continue to press for full disclosure of his academic documents.
Tinubu has previously fought off legal attempts to subpoena his academic records, further fueling suspicion.
Atiku’s latest salvo is seen as a continuation of the political rivalry between the two men, who were once allies but faced off bitterly during the 2023 presidential election. The former vice president’s demand comes at a time when public confidence in political transparency remains fragile.
“This is about truth and leadership,” Atiku concluded. “And the truth must not be delayed any longer.”
