Atiku Tackles Tinubu Over Certificate Discrepancies, Says ‘One Standard For Those In Power, Another For Nigerians’
Atiku Tackles Tinubu Over Certificate Discrepancies, Says ‘One Standard For Those In Power, Another For Nigerians’
He argued that no Nigerian seeking public office should be exempt from the standards required of ordinary job applicants.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has renewed his attack on President Bola Tinubu over alleged discrepancies in the academic certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He argued that no Nigerian seeking public office should be exempt from the standards required of ordinary job applicants.
Atiku spoke during an engagement with the ADC Youth Wing on Wednesday, where he questioned why discrepancies allegedly identified in versions of Tinubu’s academic certificate should not be subjected to the same scrutiny that would confront an ordinary Nigerian applying for employment.
The former Vice President said reports that different versions of the certificate contained different dates, signatures and descriptions of the degree raised questions that deserved explanation, stressing that public officials should be held to a uniform standard.
He said the issue is part of a broader problem in Nigeria where people in positions of authority are allegedly subjected to different standards from ordinary citizens.
Atiku asked young Nigerians at the event to imagine submitting two versions of a certificate bearing different dates and signatures while applying for a job.
“They would ask you to explain yourself. They might even reject your application,” he said.
“Yet today, serious questions remain about the exact certificate President Bola Tinubu presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission. One version reportedly says June 22, another June 27; questions have also been raised about the signatures and the description of the degree.”
The ADC candidate said he was not asking Nigerians to automatically accept his position on the matter but wanted the same standard applied to political leaders as would be applied to ordinary citizens.
“I am not asking you to accept my conclusion. I am asking something much simpler: if a young Nigerian would be required to explain such discrepancies before getting an ordinary job, why should the man seeking Nigeria’s highest job be exempt from the same standard?” he asked.
Atiku said the country needs to move away from a system where political office holders are allegedly treated differently from ordinary citizens.
“That is part of the Nigeria we must change—a Nigeria where there is one standard for those in power and another for everyone else,” he said.
The former Vice President also used the occasion to unveil what he described as a “covenant” with Nigerian youths, promising a broader role for young people in governance and economic development if elected president in 2027.
He said his proposed administration would expand access to financing for young entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers, technology founders and people in the creative industry, arguing that political connections should not determine who gets access to economic opportunities.
“Your surname, political connection or ability to find a godfather should not determine whether a good idea receives an opportunity to succeed,” Atiku said.
He also promised reforms in education, saying Nigeria must stop preparing young people for an economy that no longer exists.
According to him, greater emphasis would be placed on science, technology, vocational education, agriculture, digital skills, critical thinking and entrepreneurship.
Atiku further pledged to make broadband and digital connectivity essential national infrastructure, saying young Nigerians across the country should have equal opportunities to participate in the digital economy.
On political participation, he promised that at least 30 per cent of ADC legislative candidates would be below 40 years old, with a significant number below 30.
“When I speak about youth inclusion, I do not mean ceremonial appointments or creating a few positions with impressive titles. I mean real responsibility, political representation, economic opportunity and a genuine voice in government,” he said.
Atiku urged young Nigerians to prepare themselves for political leadership, telling them not merely to complain about those currently making decisions but to acquire the knowledge and experience necessary to replace them.
“Do not simply complain about the people making decisions. Prepare yourselves to replace those who are failing you,” he said.
He also warned that young Nigerians should hold political leaders accountable rather than blindly supporting them.
“I want your support, but I also want your scrutiny. That is how democratic institutions become stronger,” Atiku said.
The ADC presidential candidate further criticised the economic situation under the Tinubu administration, saying millions of young Nigerians were struggling with unemployment, rising living costs and limited opportunities.
He argued that leadership should not be measured by the ability to explain hardship but by the capacity to reduce it.
