UMUAHIA/Nigeria: In a compelling plea to the former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, a prominent youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hyde Kalu, has urged him to withdraw his legal case challenging the validity of President Bola Tinubu’s educational qualifications in the United States.
Kalu, representing the APC youth leadership in Abia State, emphasized the critical need for this action, stating, “because the issue is already generating negative attention to Nigeria across the globe, and Atiku should save the country this embarrassment.”
In a statement delivered to the media on Monday, Kalu expressed his deep concern, remarking, “it is quite unfortunate that the pride of Nigeria has been dragged to a point of ridicule in the comity of nations.”
Kalu implored Atiku to discontinue the litigation in the United States and instead allow the Nigerian judiciary to address the post-election dispute arising from the 2023 presidential election.
He underlined Atiku’s status as a statesman and the genuine love he holds for Nigeria, saying, “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 air our grievances in public,” Kalu implored.
Continuing, he stressed, “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.”
Kalu concluded with an appeal to the human side of the situation, saying, “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.”
It is worth recalling that Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of a Chicago Magistrate Court had called upon Chicago State University to provide sworn testimony in a discovery process concerning President Tinubu’s academic records at the university. This prompted an emergency appeal from President Tinubu himself, citing “severe and irreparable damage” to his reputation if the magistrate court’s order were granted.
Atiku Abubakar is contesting the declaration of President Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election, with one of the grounds of his appeal being the alleged forgery of President Tinubu’s academic record submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
