…Demands Answers, Transparency Over Records
The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other prominent Nigerian elder statesmen to speak publicly on the ongoing legal controversy in the United States involving records relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group, in a statement signed yesterday by its President, Chief Akin Malaolu, said recent developments in the US court proceedings had renewed concerns over transparency, accountability and Nigeria’s international image.
Malaolu specifically called on Obasanjo, former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan to break what he described as their “graveyard silence” on the matter.
He said the controversy should not be dismissed as another political disagreement, insisting that Nigerians deserved clarity on the issues arising from the US proceedings.
Malaolu, however, acknowledged that an investigation does not amount to a conviction or establish criminal guilt.
“This does not amount to a conviction, nor should anyone pretend that an investigation is proof of guilt,” he said.
He argued that reports of a criminal investigation involving Tinubu were significant enough to warrant public scrutiny because of his position as Nigeria’s President.
The Yoruba Ronu leader questioned why prominent Nigerians who had previously spoken out on democracy, governance and national integrity had not demanded greater transparency over the records being litigated in the United States.
He particularly referenced Obasanjo, who was President when Tinubu served as Governor of Lagos State, and questioned whether the Federal Government at the time had done everything within its powers to establish the facts surrounding issues that may have arisen.
Malaolu also suggested that political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections could be influencing Obasanjo’s silence, but stressed that his appeal extended to other elder statesmen.
“Where are Chief Emeka Anyaoku, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Professor Wole Soyinka, former President Goodluck Jonathan and the other respected Nigerians who have repeatedly spoken out when they believed that the country’s democracy, institutions or reputation were at stake?” he asked.
He stressed that the group was not asking the elder statesmen to pronounce Tinubu guilty, but to support transparency and accountability.
“This is not a demand that anyone pronounce President Tinubu guilty. It is a demand for transparency, accountability and answers,” Malaolu said.
According to him, lawful disclosure of the relevant records could help resolve the controversy if they contain nothing incriminating, while any legitimate outstanding questions should be subjected to an independent and credible process.
“What is unacceptable is silence,” he added.
Yoruba Ronu also urged President Tinubu to support the fullest lawful disclosure of relevant records and provide Nigerians with clear answers concerning the US proceedings.
Malaolu warned against assuming that international legal and geopolitical developments could have no consequences for Nigeria, citing Venezuela and Panama as examples of how international developments could rapidly evolve.
He, however, stressed that the organisation was not predicting any particular outcome for Nigeria or the President.
“No responsible Nigerian should wish for, or predict, any particular outcome for Nigeria or its President,” he said.
The group further argued that if credible evidence were eventually established showing that Tinubu’s continued occupancy of the presidency was incompatible with the integrity expected of the office, resignation would be the “honourable course.”
Malaolu concluded that Nigeria’s interests must take precedence over those of individual politicians, political parties, ethnic groups or other interests.
“Nigeria is bigger than Tinubu. Nigeria is bigger than Obasanjo. Nigeria is bigger than any individual, political party, ethnic group or political interest,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and the country’s elder statesmen to demand accountability and clarity on the controversy, stressing that “Nigerians deserve the truth. Nigeria deserves accountability.”
