FAKE: Atiku says Nnaji should be fired, put on trial

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the government led by President Bola Tinubu as one that has made falsifying certificates a state policy.

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, while reacting to the resignation of the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji following the certificate forgery scandal, said it once again “reveals the deep moral crisis at the heart of the Tinubu government”.

In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, Atiku said Nnaji who surrendered on Tuesday, should not be allowed to resign, arguing that he should simply be dismissed and tried for fraud and forgery.

The statement titled “Forgery as state policy: Tinubu, his cabinet and DSS must be held accountable” reads as follows:

“The resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology on Tuesday, which is usually a matter of national embarrassment, is now disguised as a “voluntary resignation”, an attempt to cover up another scandal that illustrates the falsification-ridden character of this government.

“Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed to resign. He should have been simply dismissed and tried for fraud and forgery.

“By allowing him to exit quietly through the back door, the Tinubu government has once again demonstrated that it is a collection of fakers, fraudsters and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.

“What makes this even more outrageous is that the Department of Foreign Services (DSS) that screened Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for alleged “security concerns” is the same agency that cleared the same character, Uche Nnaji.

“The DSS truly deserves our flowers for this national disgrace. Their failure to carry out due diligence has made Nigeria an object of ridicule before the world and begs the question: how many more people like this occupy sensitive positions in this government?

“This episode did not happen alone. It is a reflection of a pattern, a rot that starts from the top. The man who served as President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has for decades been entangled in controversies surrounding his identity, age and academic record.

“From the Chicago State University story to various contradictory claims under oath, the world has seen ample evidence that Nigeria is currently being led by someone who is incapable of maintaining the authenticity of his own certificates.

“When someone of questionable credentials leads a country, deception becomes the standard of governance. Tinubu’s personal history of alleged forgery and perjury has effectively institutionalized lies in the public service.

Therefore, it is not surprising that his ministers and aides imitate his example by falsifying documents, exaggerating records, and tarnishing the moral foundations of our nation.

I therefore call for an independent, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council, starting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself. Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who manage their lives and resources.

“Until this purge is complete, Nigeria will continue to plunge into moral decay, economic ruin and global embarrassment. The time has come to rescue our country from the clutches of fraud and restore the integrity of public life.”