*Abia State, Nigeria* –
Hyde Kalu, a prominent youth leader within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, has issued a plea to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to withdraw his legal pursuit concerning the validity of President Bola Tinubu’s educational qualifications in the United States. Kalu’s call comes in response to concerns that this ongoing legal battle is tarnishing Nigeria’s reputation globally.
In a press statement released on Monday, Kalu expressed his concern that the controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s educational qualifications was casting Nigeria in a negative light internationally. He urged Atiku Abubakar to discontinue the litigation in the United States and instead allow Nigeria’s judiciary to address any post-election disputes arising from the 2023 presidential election.
Kalu stated, “Atiku is a statesman, and it is not in contention that he has the love of Nigeria at heart. I am sure that no Nigerian is happy with the way our country has been subjected to ridicule over the court ruling in the United States. For the love of this country and to spare Nigerians the shame of how this process may end, it is important that we plead with Atiku to drop that case and not allow us to wash our dirty linen in public.”
Highlighting the need for a dignified resolution, Kalu emphasized, “We are all patriots, and I believe that we can have a decent way of handling this matter and save Nigerians the shame of this impending embarrassment. The election has come and gone, and a president has emerged. We are all humans, and that is why I am pleading with Atiku to discontinue the case in America for the sake of the country and in consideration of the friendship between him and President Tinubu.”
The legal dispute in the United States centers around a ruling by Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of a Chicago Magistrate Court, which ordered the Chicago State University to testify under oath in a discovery of President Tinubu’s academic records at the university. President Tinubu responded with an emergency appeal, citing “severe and irreparable damage” if the magistrate court’s order were to be granted.
Atiku Abubakar’s appeal challenges the declaration of President Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election, with one of the grounds being the alleged forgery of President Tinubu’s academic record submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The ongoing legal battle has raised concerns about its impact on Nigeria’s image and international reputation.
