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BBC Confirms Authenticity Of Tinubu’s Diploma Certificate
In recent times, President Bola Tinubu’s academic qualifications have been a subject of intense scrutiny and controversy, with allegations of forgery circulating on social media.
However, a thorough examination by the BBC’s Global Disinformation Team has shed light on the authenticity of the diploma President Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic documents emerged following the release of his academic records by Chicago State University (CSU) last week.
These records were made public in response to a judicial case filed in August by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who sought to disqualify President Tinubu based on claims of falsification of the CSU diploma in Business Administration awarded in 1979, which he submitted to INEC.
A copy of the diploma CSU awarded to Mr Tinubu in 1979.
Copies of diplomas with similar font, seal, signatures, and wording awarded to other students by CSU in 1979.
The BBC’s Global Disinformation Team gained access to the deposition transcript provided by Abubakar’s spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
They conducted an in-depth analysis of the various diplomas issued by CSU and compared them to the one submitted by President Tinubu to INEC.
The original diploma from 1979, which Tinubu claimed to have lost during his exile in the 1990s.
The second diploma, submitted to INEC, which resembled CSU’s diplomas from the 1990s.
Another replacement diploma held by CSU, likely from the early 2000s, which Tinubu never collected.
The controversy stemmed from the visual differences between the diploma submitted to INEC and the 1979 CSU diplomas.
However, the discrepancies were explained by the fact that the diploma had been re-issued in the 1990s.
CSU’s diploma template had evolved over the years, meaning that any request for a new diploma would resemble the template of the time, not the year of graduation.
Crucially, three of the diplomas dating from the 1990s released by CSU bore a striking resemblance to President Tinubu’s.
This alignment, despite minor variations, provided evidence that the diploma submission was not forged.
Furthermore, the absence of part of the university logo on the copy submitted to INEC was attributed to the photocopying process.
The BBC’s analysis revealed that the missing section was a result of the photocopy, supporting the diploma’s authenticity.
One of the claims against the diploma’s legitimacy was the phrase “with honors.” While this phrase was not present in other CSU diplomas, it was confirmed in the diploma issued to President Tinubu in the early 2000s.
Mr. Westberg, during his deposition, authenticated this particular diploma as it remained in CSU’s possession, never having been collected.
CSU was contacted by the BBC for clarification on its diplomas, and they reiterated their confidence in the accuracy of their records regarding Tinubu’s attendance and completion of graduation requirements.
US President Donald Trump has asserted that he is not jesting about his ambitions for a third presidential term, despite the constitutional restrictions in place.
While the U.S. Constitution prohibits any individual from serving more than two four-year terms, Trump indicated that it is premature to delve into such considerations.
Having assumed office for his second, non-consecutive term on January 20, Trump has hinted at his desire for a third term, addressing the matter more directly in a telephone conversation with NBC News.
“No, I’m not joking. I’m not joking,” Trump reiterated, though he acknowledged, “it is far too early to think about it.”
He hinted at potential avenues to pursue this goal without providing specific details.
According to the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. presidents are limited to two terms, whether consecutive or not. To amend this constitutional provision would require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures.
Some of Trump’s allies have suggested the feasibility of extending his stay in the White House beyond 2028. Trump himself has alluded to this notion on multiple occasions, often in a manner that challenges his political adversaries. Should he pursue another term after the November 2028 election, he would be 82 years old, having previously made history as the oldest president at the time of his inauguration.
The tradition of limiting presidential terms was established by George Washington in 1796. This practice was largely followed for over 140 years until Franklin D. Roosevelt broke the norm by winning a third term in 1940. Roosevelt, who led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II, sadly passed away during his fourth term in 1945, leading to the enactment of the term limits amendment in 1951.
Steve Bannon, a long-time adviser to Trump, expressed in a March 19 interview with NewsNation his belief that Trump will indeed run again in 2028. Bannon noted that he and others are exploring ways to facilitate this ambition, including reviewing the definition of term limits. “We’re working on it,” he stated, underscoring the ongoing discussions surrounding Trump’s political future.
Traders in Lagos have voiced their concerns regarding the significant decline in food sales, particularly for pepper, attributing the downturn to rising prices and the diminished purchasing power of local residents.
In interviews conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), both traders and consumers shared their experiences regarding patronage as the Sallah celebration approaches.
Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, Chairman of the Tomato Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (Kaduna chapter), linked the situation to the heightened prices of produce and the weakened purchasing capacity of consumers. He stated, “Pepper prices in the north are also steep, with a jumbo 50kg bag reaching as high as N150,000, compared to N60,000 to N70,000 just months ago. This price surge may adversely affect the Sallah festivities, as only a few consumers may afford these products.”
Zuntu further explained, “Currently, we are outside the pepper farming season. Insufficient rainfall has led to a scarcity of this commodity, with only a handful of farmers involved in irrigation. Many will resort to using dried pepper, which is more affordable during this time, although demand remains low. We anticipate an increase in demand as the celebration nears.”
Mrs. Mistura Balogun, a pepper vendor at Lawanson Market in Surulere, echoed these sentiments, noting the unusually low customer turnout. “It’s not just pepper that has become expensive; many other goods have seen price increases as well. Typically, this time of year should see a bustling market, but today is quite different. I have been at my stall since morning, and the number of customers is minimal,” she lamented.
Similarly, Mrs. Mojisola Gbadegesin, another pepper seller at Idi-Araba market, reported a stark decrease in patronage. “Despite the high prices, we usually see customers buying pepper, but this year is different. The market feels deserted, and business is sluggish,” she remarked.
Mrs. Judith Amen, also a foodstuff vendor, highlighted that the rising prices of pepper and other food items are likely to escalate further as the celebrations peak. “At the start of the week, a small bag of scotch bonnet pepper was priced at N70,000, and I expect prices to soar over the weekend due to Sallah. A good quality bag of rice is selling for N85,000, while lower-quality options range from N60,000 to N75,000. Although patronage is currently low, we anticipate an uptick a day before Sallah, but consumers will only purchase what they can afford,” she explained.
Mr. John Nwabueze, a trader in the Agege area, expressed frustration over the lack of customers as Eid celebrations begin. “Sales have been notably low, with people buying only what their budgets allow. The market has been unusually quiet, affecting all commodities, including rice. A 50kg bag of rice is priced between N76,000 and N78,000, yet sales remain sluggish this Sallah,” he noted.
Mrs. Amina Fakunle, a resident of the Alimosho area, remarked that the high cost of pepper would lead consumers to celebrate in a more subdued manner. “Just six pieces of pepper cost about N500, which is the lowest price available. With these prices, people will likely opt for a low-key celebration,” she stated.
Mr. David Oriafo, a resident of the Dopemu area, also commented on the lack of festive activity in the market. “I managed to purchase a few items for my family to save costs, but it’s evident that the usual festive buzz is missing. People are only buying what they can afford, much like myself,” he shared. (NAN)
A Nigerian boxer, Segun “Success” Olanrewaju, has died after slumping during a boxing match in Ghana.
The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), Remi Aboderin confirmed the death of the boxer on Sunday.
The 40-year-old boxer, nicknamed “Success”, stumbled to the canvas while fighting Jon Mbanugu, a Ghanian, at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena, Accra, on Saturday.
Olanrewaju was not punched or near his opponent when he collapsed violently in round three of the light-heavyweight bout.
The referee called the match immediately, and medical aid was ushered into the ring.
Olarenwaju died after he was rushed to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Ther boxer was a former West African and national light-heavyweight champion.
He competed in 24 bouts with 13 wins, eight losses, and three draws.
In 2022, Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, another boxer, also died after suffering a technical knockout (TKO) in a bout at the National Sports Festival (NSF) in Delta.
Igboanugo died after he took a fatal blow to the nose and did not survive the hit.