Politics
Jonathan’s PhD, Obi’s Degree Changed Nothing for Nigeria — APC Chieftain Defends Tinubu
Jonathan’s PhD, Obi’s Degree Changed Nothing for Nigeria — APC Chieftain Defends Tinubu
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has dismissed arguments that academic qualifications determine leadership competence, insisting that the educational credentials of prominent opposition figures have not translated into better governance or political judgment for Nigeria .
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, Hassan argued that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s doctorate (PhD), Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi’s university degree (BSc), and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s credentials had not produced any significant national transformation. He questioned the relevance of these qualifications in practical governance and political decision-making, challenging their tangible impact on the country’s development trajectory. “Tell me what Jonathan’s PhD has done to Nigeria. Tell me how Obi’s degree (BSc) has helped improve his communication skills. Tell me what it has done to Atiku to help him navigate and know the time to contest or when to concede for the best person of the time,” Hassan said. According to Hassan, the opposition has failed to present substantive criticisms against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, relying instead on debates over his academic background rather than engaging with policy issues and governance outcomes. He accused opposition leaders of being driven by personal ambition rather than offering meaningful policy alternatives, stating bluntly that “these guys are greedy guys. They don’t have any substance to hold this man.”
Hassan also defended President Tinubu against lingering allegations surrounding his certificate from Chicago State University, maintaining that there is no official declaration from the institution that the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was forged. He argued that the university had confirmed under oath that President Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and that no court had ever ruled the document invalid. “There is nowhere that Chicago State University says the certificate President Tinubu submitted to INEC is forged. What the Constitution says is a school certificate or its equivalent. An equivalent of a school certificate is the ability to read and write,” Hassan stated. His defence anchored on judicial precedents interpreting Section 131(d) of the 1999 Constitution, which specifies the statutory minimum threshold of a “School Certificate or its equivalent” as a broad qualification designed to assess basic literacy and educational attainment, which higher academic qualifications far exceed. The APC chieftain further cited global examples to support his argument, noting that one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, dropped out of Harvard but still achieved greatness, demonstrating that formal credentials are not the sole determinant of success. In his view, President Tinubu has, in less than four years, done more than what some past Nigerian leaders could have achieved, and he pointed out that “there are people who are Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in this country who did not attend primary and secondary school,” suggesting that practical experience and competence matter more than paper qualifications.
READ ALSO:
- Renewed Hope Skills Training: FG Begins Practical Sessions for 18,510 Nigerians Across 36 States
- State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline
- Biafra Civil War: Gowon says Igbo bank depositors were fully paid, defends Awolowo over £20 policy
However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and lawyer, Kalu Kalu, rejected the APC’s defence, insisting that questions about Tinubu’s educational records remain unanswered and that inconsistencies surrounding Tinubu’s academic history continue to fuel concerns over the authenticity of his records. “Everything about President Ahmed Tinubu’s certificate is shrouded in forgery. Today, what do we have in Tinubu’s records? There is no information as to his primary school or his secondary school,” Kalu said. He challenged the President to publicly disclose the primary and secondary schools he attended, arguing that doing so would help address lingering questions about his educational background and put the matter to rest once and for all. Kalu alleged that documents obtained from Chicago State University during litigation initiated by Atiku Abubakar raised questions about information allegedly supplied by Tinubu during his admission process, and he further argued that anyone found to have submitted forged certificates would be constitutionally disqualified from contesting for the office of President under Nigerian law. Hassan dismissed the allegations, repeatedly demanding proof that any court had declared the documents forged, and challenged his opponents to provide concrete evidence rather than speculation. “The issue is, has Tinubu at any time presented a forged certificate to INEC? Can we have your evidence that he did? Show us,” Hassan challenged, shifting the burden of proof back to the opposition.
It is worth noting that Hassan has previously expressed concerns about internal party dynamics, warning that the real danger to Tinubu’s re-election may not come from opposition parties but from within the APC itself. Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, he stated that many ministers and governors do not genuinely support President Tinubu, drawing parallels with the internal sabotage that contributed to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat in 2015 when members of his own party allegedly worked against his re-election. “A lot of ministers and governors in our party (APC) do not have President Tinubu at heart. They don’t like him for who he is; they want him for what he is,” Hassan said, suggesting that some party members are more interested in personal gain than in the president’s success. He maintained that a significant number of APC power brokers were following the same pattern, pretending to be loyal while quietly undermining the president’s political standing, and warned that this internal disaffection could pose a greater threat to Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid than any opposition challenge.
Hassan’s remarks follow fresh controversies that greeted the academic credentials submitted by President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 elections as revealed by INEC, reigniting a debate that has persisted since the 2023 presidential election. The exchange reflects continued political disagreement between the ruling APC and the opposition over Tinubu’s academic credentials, an issue that has remained a subject of public debate and legal challenges. The comments were also directed at opposition figures who have positioned themselves as alternatives to Tinubu, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi (who resigned from the ADC and was ratified as the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress for 2027), and others who have made their academic qualifications a point of distinction in their political campaigns. Hassan suggested that attacks on the president have been driven more by political rivalry than by genuine policy concerns, and that the opposition would be better served by presenting alternative solutions to Nigeria’s challenges rather than engaging in what he described as baseless attacks on the president’s personal history.
Jonathan’s PhD, Obi’s Degree Changed Nothing for Nigeria — APC Chieftain Defends Tinubu
Politics
No Office of the First Lady Under My Presidency, Vows Omoyele Sowore
No Office of the First Lady Under My Presidency, Vows Omoyele Sowore
The AAC candidate pledges to slash governance costs by ₦4 trillion, abolish gubernatorial security votes, and end unconstitutional spending.
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has pledged to eliminate the Office of the First Lady if he wins the 2027 presidential election, describing the ceremonial post as an unconstitutional drain on national resources. Sowore emphasized that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution provides no legal standing or budgetary allocation for the spouse of the head of state.
Consequently, Sowore clarified that while entering the State House will not alter his marriage, his administration will refuse to assign official duties, staff, or public funds to his spouse.
Instead, he promised to champion women’s voices across all levels of government by appointing qualified female leaders to legitimate, constitutional offices rather than maintaining a ceremonial platform.
He condemned the continued allocation of taxpayer revenue to unofficial positions, arguing that such expenditures divert critical capital from infrastructure and social welfare.
Furthermore, the AAC candidate outlined a comprehensive austerity framework intended to slash the cost of governance by approximately ₦4 trillion. Central to this strategy, Sowore vowed to initiate constitutional amendments to outlaw discretionary security votes for state governors, a long-debated pool of funds historically shielded from public accounting.
Ultimately, he insisted that transferring these discretionary funds directly into state treasuries will help governments pay public sector wages consistently and fund vital public services.
No Office of the First Lady Under My Presidency, Vows Omoyele Sowore
Politics
Otti: I Won’t Become Political Godfather After Leaving Office
Otti: I Won’t Become Political Godfather After Leaving Office
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he will not become a political godfather or impose a successor on the state after completing his second term in 2031.
Otti spoke in Umuahia on Thursday while receiving former Social Democratic Party governorship candidate Ngozi Johnson-Chukwunenye and her supporters into the Labour Party.
The governor said he would prefer a successor to emerge based on merit and competence rather than what he described as a “sit-tight” approach to political leadership.
“I don’t want to be a godfather, and I don’t tolerate godfathers” Otti said, adding that political stakeholders should consider those capable of doing the job before supporting a candidate.
He also reiterated that he does not plan to seek another elective position after his second term, saying younger people should be given opportunities to take up leadership roles.
Otti Highlights Youth Leadership Programme
The governor said his administration was already preparing young people for future leadership through initiatives such as the Abia Leadership Academy.
According to him, more than 1,080 people aged between 16 and 25 had recently graduated from the academy.
Otti said the programme was intended to help prepare a new generation of leaders rather than encourage prolonged political control by individuals.
Meanwhile, he said his administration would continue extending its development projects beyond Aba and Umuahia into other parts of the state.
He said the government initially focused on the two major cities before moving into the hinterland with additional projects.
Otti: I Won’t Become Political Godfather After Leaving Office
Politics
2027: Tinubu May Mediate Wike-APC Governors Rift In France
2027: Tinubu May Mediate Wike-APC Governors Rift In France
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may intervene in the growing disagreement between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A senior presidential aide was quoted as saying that Tinubu could meet the concerned political actors while in France, where the President is currently on vacation. The aide said the intervention was likely to take place abroad before the end of the week.
The reported meeting has not been officially confirmed, and no formal truce has been announced between Wike and the APC governors.
The disagreement centres on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, which he has been promoting in support of Tinubu’s re-election while maintaining that the platform is separate from the APC.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving as FCT minister, has said his support for Tinubu does not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said he would mobilise support for Tinubu at the presidential level but had never promised that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests.
He has also maintained that he never approached the APC governors to join the Rainbow Coalition and that President Tinubu is aware of his political activities.
READ ALSO:
- 2027: Sowore Says He’d Rather Die Than Travel Abroad For Medical Treatment
- Toyin Abraham Rejects Lagos APC Campaign Council Inclusion
- FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant As 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die In Custody
Wike has cited the 2023 elections in states such as Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi to argue that voters can support different parties in presidential and state or legislative elections held on the same day.
The position has drawn opposition from the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
Its Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said after a meeting of APC governors in Abuja that they would not support political arrangements capable of undermining the APC, Tinubu’s re-election or the party’s candidates.
APC leaders in the South-East have also rejected Wike’s Rainbow Coalition and criticised his comments about the Progressive Governors, urging party members to maintain support for APC candidates across the ballot.
The disagreement has attracted differing reactions within the ruling party.
Ima Niboro, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, described the situation as a disagreement among political actors who broadly support Tinubu’s re-election but differ over how that support should operate alongside other electoral contests.
Niboro urged Wike and the APC governors to end the public exchanges and concentrate on grassroots mobilisation.
Other APC figures have also taken different positions. Former House Minority Leader Farouk Adamu-Aliyu warned against any attempt to weaken the APC, while Kano politician Abdulmumin Jibrin urged APC governors not to embarrass Wike, arguing that the FCT minister remains relevant to Tinubu’s re-election effort.
The issue has consequently become a matter of political coordination within the wider camp backing Tinubu for 2027.
For Wike, supporting Tinubu at the presidential level can coexist with the PDP contesting other elections. The APC governors have instead stressed the need to protect the party’s candidates and structures.
The reported France intervention is therefore being viewed as a possible effort by Tinubu to manage the competing interests before they affect broader preparations for the 2027 elections.
However, the available report does not establish that a specific peace meeting between Tinubu, Wike and the APC governors has been scheduled in France. It only indicates that the President could intervene while abroad.
The outcome of any such intervention remains uncertain, while Wike continues to support Tinubu’s re-election and the APC governors maintain their position on party candidates.
2027: Tinubu May Mediate Wike-APC Governors Rift In France
-
International2 days agoIslamic Council Condemns Attempted Attack on Holy City of Mecca
-
metro3 days agoLagos Power Outage: Ikeja Electric Blames TCN as Businesses, Homes Groan
-
News2 days agoKeep Politics Out of My Office — Ogbomoso Grand Chief Imam Warns Politicians, Bloggers
-
metro2 days agoNiger Mosque Abductions: Terrorists Execute 30 of 500 Captive Muslim Worshippers
-
International3 days agoUS Court Blocks Trump Visa Rule Limiting Stay of Foreign Students, Journalists
-
Entertainment2 days agoBREAKING: Olu Jacobs Dies at 84, Atiku Mourns Cultural Icon
-
metro3 days agoFatal NURTW Leadership Clash in Osun Leaves Two Dead; State Orders Park Shut Down
-
Business1 day agoFuel Prices Climb to ₦1,500 per Litre Across Nigeria, Sparking Calls for Urgent Action