The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, and the National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, have criticised President Bola Tinubu over alleged efforts to prevent the release of documents relating to his past by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
While Obi described the alleged development as embarrassing, Baba-Ahmed questioned the simultaneous absence of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from Nigeria, asking who was responsible for running the affairs of the country in their absence.
‘Who is in charge now?’
Speaking yesterday at the first national summit of opposition political leaders in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed alleged that Tinubu embarked on an emergency foreign trip in an attempt to prevent the possible release of documents concerning him by the FBI.
He said it was unprecedented for a sitting Nigerian president and vice president to be outside the country at the same time.
“Who is in charge now?” Baba-Ahmed asked.
‘Nigerians deserve clear and verifiable explanations’ — Obi
In a post on his X account, Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, expressed concern over what he described as the direction of the country.
He said it was embarrassing that Nigeria had reached a situation where a sitting president was allegedly seeking to stop a foreign court from releasing records about his past, particularly documents involving issues of legitimate public interest.
According to Obi, leadership requires the courage and humility to confront one’s past, acknowledge mistakes, offer honest explanations when questions arise and, where appropriate, apologise and seek forgiveness.
He argued that accepting responsibility strengthens leadership rather than weakening it, adding that leaders should not attempt to conceal controversial aspects of their past from legitimate public scrutiny.
Obi said this was especially important where questions about educational credentials were involved.
He maintained that issues concerning a leader’s primary and secondary education should be resolved through clear and verifiable explanations rather than being left to legal battles.
“Nigerians deserve clear, credible and verifiable explanations, especially when such information had previously been submitted,” he said.
Obi also expressed concern about the example such developments could set for more than 200 million Nigerians, particularly the millions of young people currently in school.
He said the country’s highest office should demonstrate integrity, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership.
According to him, having an imperfect past is part of being human, but what matters is the willingness to face it honestly, acknowledge wrongdoing, make amends where necessary and put national interests ahead of personal ambitions.
Obi concluded by questioning when Nigeria’s political class would recognise that personal ambitions are temporary, while the nation remains.
