By Ayo Ayodele
A seemingly lighthearted remark by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme has stirred significant public scrutiny and reignited longstanding concerns over the President’s academic records.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, President Tinubu claimed that Mr. Alex Zingman, a Belarusian businessman with a controversial global profile, was his classmate at Chicago State University (CSU). The statement, delivered without context or elaboration, has prompted a flurry of questions from observers, critics, and opposition voices who argue that the comment deepens the mystery surrounding the President’s educational background.
Responding, the Atiku Media Office issued a strongly worded statement questioning the veracity of Tinubu’s claim. According to the release, public records indicate that Zingman was born in 1966 — making him just 13 years old in 1979, the year Tinubu says he graduated from CSU.
“Are we now to believe that the Guinness Book of Records missed the story of a 13-year-old Belarusian prodigy graduating from an American university alongside Bola Ahmed Tinubu?” the statement read.
Zingman’s name has been associated with allegations of arms trafficking and financial irregularities across Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The suggestion of any past academic link between the Nigerian President and such a figure has only heightened the controversy.
Further, the statement from the opposition flagged inconsistencies in Tinubu’s earlier academic claims, including the provenance of certificates from institutions like Government College, Lagos, which reportedly did not exist at the time the President claimed to have attended.
“This is not just about personal history — it’s about public trust,” the Atiku Media Office wrote. “The Presidency is not a sanctuary for secrets — it is a platform for integrity.”
Critics argue that the ambiguity around Tinubu’s academic records has lingered for too long without adequate clarification. While documents from CSU have been produced in the past, questions remain over the chain of custody, authenticity, and the absence of credible witnesses or classmates who can attest to Tinubu’s student years.
The Presidency has yet to issue a formal response to the controversy surrounding the President’s remarks.
As calls grow louder for transparency and clarity, many Nigerians are asking: who exactly were Tinubu’s classmates — and what is the truth about his academic past?