By Emmanuel Nduka
Sagir Mai Iyali, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the Presidential Screening Committee of the party to disqualify its National Leader, Bola Tinubu over alleged age falsification and abuse of drugs.
He made the call in a petition which was written on the May 17, and submitted on May 30, and its receipt was acknowledged by one Emmanuel Akpan.
Tinubu’s academic qualifications have been a subject of controversy for over a decade. The former Lagos State Governor had indicated that he graduated from the University of Chicago in his INEC form 001 filled when he contested the Lagos State governorship poll in 1999.
He also stated that he lost his university degree certificate while he was in exile between 1994 and 1998.
In the petition forwarded to John Odigie-Oyegun, Chairman of the Committee, Iyali said Tinubu never graduated from the University of Chicago, and added that he lied about his age and state of origin.
He thus asked that Tinubu shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the June 7 primary of the party.
“We understand that Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has since procured his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms and has submitted same to the party has certain issues that amount to a similar disqualification scenario.
“From the information contained in a prior submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly in 1999, Mr Tinubu Presented a false claim, on oath, of his attendance at the University of Chicago from 1972-1976. It is clear now that these claims are false.
“Not only was this filed in the INEC form with a declaration on oath on December 20th, 1999, but it was also contained in an affidavit of loss sworn to before the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja Registry, December 29th 1998.
“The latter claim that seeks to transpose history is untenable. Mr Tinubu has to show proof he attended the University of Chicago or he must stand disqualified as the opposition has these same documents.
“Over the years, the identity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been shrouded in secrecy. No one can claim to know the identity of the man.
“Similarly, the age of Tinubu is not known to anyone. Though it’s not a contention that he is above the statutory age of 35-years, it’s equally important that his exact age is known,” Iyali said.
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