Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has labelled the US District Court ruling instructing Chicago State University (CSU) to disclose the academic records of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, “national disgrace.”.

Chidoka emphasized that the episode undermines Nigeria’s image both nationally and internationally. He stated, “If it turns out tomorrow that our President presented a forged certificate to INEC, Nigerians will bow down their heads globally in shame.”

On the other hand, if President Tinubu’s credentials are validated, Chidoka believes the situation remains problematic due to the institutions’ failure to perform due diligence.

The crux of the controversy revolves around President Tinubu’s presentation of a CSU degree without corresponding primary and secondary school certificates. This oversight has raised suspicions and led to this international legal pursuit.

Chidoka also referenced a past incident where Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) recommended against appointing Police Commissioner Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC chairman. He contrasted the DSS’s previous proactive approach to the current silence on President Tinubu’s academic records.

Concluding his statement, the former minister called for President Tinubu’s resignation if the allegations prove true, emphasizing the matter’s moral implications beyond its legal ramifications. If the certificate is genuine, Chidoka urged a comprehensive reformation of Nigeria’s national security system to prevent similar embarrassments in the future.