The internet has been on fire since the release of some documents that proved Bola Tinubu forged his certificate. Netizens have been reacting and calling for Mr. Tinubu’s resignation.
Bola Tinubu’s ongoing certificate saga, which has caused ruckus in the internet space, sparks reactions from Nigerians who have come to use social media as a means to express their unwavering disapproval of what many believe to be an illegitimate government.
The protracted legal battle over Mr. Tinubu’s contentious academic record intensified on Tuesday when CSU admitted that it did not issue the certificate that Mr. Tinubu presented to Nigeria’s election commission.
Mr. Tinubu’s certificate, which was dated June 22, 1979, and submitted to INEC on June 17, 2022, according to CSU registrar Caleb Westberg, was not granted by the institution; therefore, its officials were unable to validate its origins.
Social media users have responded to CSU’s decision, with many calling for Mr. Tinubu to be removed from office in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution, which states in Section 137 (1)(J) as amended in 2010 that no one would be legitimately elected president of Nigeria if the person has presented a forged certificate to the Independence Electoral Commission (INEC).
A user on X cited instances when political office holders have resigned due to certificate forgery:
“In 1999, Speaker of the House of Representatives Salisu Buhari resigned due to certificate forgery.
“In 2018, Kemi Adeosun stepped down as finance minister because of a fake NYSC certificate.
“In 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been confirmed to have forged his Chicago State University diploma certificate, which he presented to INEC. Nigerians expect him to be sacked by the Supreme Court.” @King_Inspires twitted.
Another X user, @viasgris, posted: “@officialABAT
YOU MUST RESIGN. YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL. If Kemi Adeosun, Ibrahim Salisu, and a couple others could be disqualified because of a forged certificate, you too must be removed. You are not qualified to be president of Nigeria.”
“If Kemi Adeosun did, then Tinubu should honorably walk away and resign.” – @darrellg9
“Any judgment from the Supreme Court that does not include the disqualification of Tinubu is not justice and is not a reflection of the Constitution. It will not be accepted. The Supreme Court must, as a matter of justice, disqualify Bola Tinubu.
We will take this walk this time. We will revolt this time.”- @UkomahM
On March 1, Mr. Tinubu was named the victor of the presidential election that took place on February 25; nonetheless, he has been hounded by a number of issues, including claims of forgery and perjury.
The presidential election petitions tribunal affirmed Mr. Tinubu’s victory on September 6 by dismissing all petitions filed by Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, the 2023 presidential candidate. Following this outcome, the pair decided to appeal the matter to the Supreme Court.
However, following the recent evidence against Tinubu on the backdrop of the certificate forgery that was initially struck out by the Tribunal Judges, it is pertinent to know that should the Supreme Court admit this new evidence that points to Tinubu forging the certificate he tendered to INEC, the law, by virtue of precedence, will hold sway on the disqualification of Tinubu.