Atiku Abubakar Challenges President Tinubu's Claim of Belarusian Classmate, Demands Clarity on Academic Credentials

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strongly worded statement, urging Nigerians to critically examine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's recent remarks regarding his alleged association with a Belarusian businessman, Mr. Alex Zingman. The unexpected claim made by the President during a public event has ignited a fresh wave of controversy surrounding his educational background and personal history.

During a tractor inauguration ceremony held on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Abuja, President Tinubu introduced Mr. Zingman as a long-time friend and former classmate from Chicago State University. The President, speaking at the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme, described Zingman as a successful entrepreneur from Belarus and said they had once been neighbors while studying in the United States.

This revelation did not sit well with Atiku Abubakar, who, through a statement from his media office on Tuesday, called on the Nigerian public to scrutinize the President's claim, especially given the contentious and often-disputed history of Tinubu’s academic records. Atiku asserted that rather than laying rumors to rest, Tinubu’s remarks have only intensified concerns and deepened the uncertainty surrounding his past.

Atiku highlighted that public information about Mr. Alex Zingman suggests he was born in 1966. Based on this timeline, Zingman would have been only 13 years old in 1979, the year Tinubu claims to have graduated from Chicago State University. Atiku posed a rhetorical question asking whether the world had somehow overlooked the extraordinary case of a 13-year-old Belarusian child prodigy graduating from an American university alongside the Nigerian President.

Concerns raised by Atiku went beyond Zingman’s age. The former Vice President also questioned the nature of Zingman’s reputation, pointing out that the businessman has been implicated in several controversial dealings across Africa. According to Atiku, Zingman’s name has surfaced in investigations involving alleged arms trafficking and questionable financial operations in countries like Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The statement described Tinubu’s friendly engagement with Zingman as “troubling,” given the nature of the businessman’s alleged activities and the sensitive nature of the office held by the Nigerian President. Atiku argued that such associations must be examined under the lens of national integrity and public accountability.

Beyond the controversy involving Zingman, Atiku revisited old questions concerning Tinubu’s academic history. He pointed out inconsistencies in Tinubu’s stated educational journey, noting that the President once claimed to have presented a certificate from Government College, Lagos to gain admission into Richard Daley College in 1973. However, no verifiable testimonies have emerged from individuals who claim to have studied alongside him at any of these institutions.

Atiku also raised the issue of an alleged certificate dated 1970, supposedly issued by a school founded two years later, in 1972. He said such anomalies make it difficult for Nigerians to trust the narrative surrounding Tinubu’s academic and early life history.

In his appeal, Atiku emphasized that the office of the President is not merely ceremonial but represents a moral and ethical responsibility to uphold truth and transparency. He noted that other global leaders have no difficulty presenting classmates, records, and institutional endorsements of their academic paths, and he challenged Tinubu to do the same.

The former Vice President concluded with a firm call to action, saying that Nigerians deserve not just vague recollections or unverifiable anecdotes but clear, factual information backed by evidence. He urged the President to address the inconsistencies publicly and provide verifiable proof of his educational history and his association with Mr. Zingman.

As the debate continues, many Nigerians are left with more questions than answers. The call for transparency grows louder, echoing across both social media platforms and public discourse. The government has yet to issue a formal response to Atiku’s statement. However, observers believe the matter will not be going away anytime soon, particularly as it touches on the fundamental issue of credibility and the integrity of public office.