Atiku questions Tinubu over his recent claim that he attended Chicago State University with Belarusian billionaire businessman Alex Zingman.
The former Vice President described the comment as questionable and urged Tinubu to clarify the nature of their relationship.
Speaking at the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme, President Tinubu had mentioned studying alongside “Alex from Belarus” at CSU.
However, Atiku questions Tinubu by pointing out that Zingman, born in 1966, would have been 13 in 1979.
Atiku’s media office dismissed the claim, saying no 13-year-old could have realistically graduated university that same year.
The statement notes that Zingman’s global reputation includes links to arms trafficking and shady financial dealings across African countries.
“Nigerians deserve to know if Tinubu studied with Zingman or is spinning fiction to deflect serious scrutiny,” Atiku noted.
The former Vice President questioned why no verifiable classmate from Government College Lagos or CSU has confirmed Tinubu’s claims.
He also challenged Tinubu’s academic history, citing inconsistencies in certificates allegedly presented to gain college admission in 1973.
“How did a school established in 1972 issue you a certificate dated 1970?” Atiku’s team asked in the statement.
Atiku questions Tinubu further, asking why every clarification about the President’s academic records creates more controversy and confusion.
The statement emphasized that Nigeria’s presidency must be a beacon of truth, not a safe house for secrets or fiction.
Atiku stressed that Nigerians are not seeking dramatic tales from abroad but factual, provable evidence of Tinubu’s qualifications.
He concluded by stating the Nigerian public deserves accountability and facts from its leaders—not vague stories and inconsistencies.
