Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, has provided explanations for his lack of basic and secondary school diplomas.
In his Independent National Electoral Commission papers, the former two-term governor of Lagos State provided the reasons.
In addition, the National Leader of the APC informed the INEC that despite possessing two degrees from two American universities, he was unable to give proof.
He claimed that they were taken by unknown soldiers during the military junta of the 1990s, when he fled the country due to his support for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was won by the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola but was annulled by the regime of former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
He was a key member of the National Democratic Coalition that pushed for the election’s revalidation.
Tinubu reported this information in an affidavit submitted to the INEC as part of his eligibility files for the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu did not check the boxes for his primary and secondary school education, according to the records.
In 1979, he claimed to have earned a degree in business and administration.
He stated, “I lived in self-imposed exile from October 1994 till October 1998.
“Upon my return, I discovered that all of my belongings, including all of the paperwork pertaining to my qualifications and the certifications mentioned in paragraph three, had been stolen by unknown individuals.
Since the 17th of November 1993, when the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to adjourn following the military takeover of government, my home has been subject to a series of raids by various security personnel.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s most recent assertions appear to contradict his prior election submissions, particularly in 1999 and 2003, when he stood for governor of Lagos State.
Both times, he claimed to have attended elementary and senior school.
Between 1958 to 1964, he attended St. Paul Children’s Home School in Ibadan, Oyo State, and between 1965 and 1968, he attended Government College in Ibadan, Oyo State.
From 1969 to 1971, Tinubu attended Richard Daley College in Chicago after leaving Ibadan.
Lastly, he disclosed that he attended both Chicago State University and the University of Chicago.
The Chicago State University acknowledged Tinubu as a student, and on June 22, 1979, he graduated with a degree in Business and Administration.
