Babatunde Gbadamosi, the 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) deputy governorship candidate in Lagos State, has publicly questioned President Bola Tinubu's academic background, alleging that the Nigerian leader never attended two institutions associated with his educational history. Gbadamosi voiced these assertions while backing Dr. Pearse Adetokunbo, whom he praised as a principled individual.
What are the specific allegations raised against the president?
Dr. Pearse Adetokunbo, a former academic staff member at Chicago State University, previously claimed that President Tinubu falsely portrayed himself as an alumnus of the United States institution, maintaining that the president never actually studied there. Adetokunbo also criticized the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, alleging that he misled the public by defending the assertions regarding Tinubu's time at Chicago State University.
In an official statement responding to the controversy, Gbadamosi noted that he was familiar with Adetokunbo and expressed satisfaction that these assertions had finally been made public after previous private discussions between them. Furthermore, Gbadamosi disputed accounts concerning Tinubu's purported attendance at Government College Lagos, maintaining that graduation from the school in 1970 was impossible since the institution was founded in 1974.
"I also know, contrary to the information that Chicago State University claimed to have on their records, that Bola Tinubu, man or woman, did not graduate from Government College Lagos in 1970, because the school was not established until 1974," Gbadamosi remarked.
Gbadamosi stated that he enrolled at the institution in 1978 and witnessed the graduation of its inaugural set of students in 1979, asserting firmly that Tinubu was absent during that period. Additionally, the ADC chieftain claimed that Tinubu did not attend Government College Ibadan, noting that intelligence regarding the president's educational background had reached him as early as 1998.
How has the administration's governance been assessed?
Connecting the disputed academic records to current governance, Gbadamosi questioned the leadership style of the administration. "If his educational history is this opaque, why are you surprised at his buccaneering style of governance?" he asked. He additionally criticized the federal administration's fiscal strategies, alleging that acquired loans were subjected to misappropriation.
"Why are you surprised at the wholesale borrowing and looting of loans?" Gbadamosi queried.
Concluding his remarks, the politician stressed the need for political change ahead of the upcoming general elections, stating that current governance practices must be challenged by citizens seeking national survival and prosperity by 2027.