A seemingly lighthearted comment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme in Abuja on Monday has ignited a fresh wave of scrutiny over his long-contested academic records.
While addressing attendees, President Tinubu claimed that Mr. Alex Zingman, a Belarusian businessman with a controversial global reputation, was his classmate at Chicago State University (CSU). The statement, which came without elaboration, has triggered a flurry of questions and criticism, with observers pointing out chronological and factual inconsistencies.
According to publicly available records, Mr. Zingman was born in 1966. By 1979, when Tinubu said he graduated from CSU, Zingman would have been only 13 years old — making it highly improbable, if not impossible, for him to have been a university student at that time.
“This isn’t just a minor error. It’s a glaring inconsistency that further deepens the mystery surrounding the President’s academic history,” said a political analyst in Abuja, who requested anonymity.
Mr. Zingman’s name has appeared in several international reports linking him to alleged arms trading, murky financial dealings, and sanctions-related controversies, particularly in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His connection to the Nigerian president — even if anecdotal — has raised concerns about the nature of their relationship.
The presidency has not issued a clarification on the matter at the time of this report.
The comment also reopens lingering questions about President Tinubu’s educational journey, which has been a topic of public debate for years. Documents presented by the President claim he graduated from Chicago State University in 1979 and that he used a certificate from Government College, Lagos to gain admission to Richard J. Daley College in 1973.
However, no verifiable classmate from either institution has publicly affirmed studying alongside Tinubu. Additionally, questions have been raised over the authenticity of the Government College Lagos certificate, which reportedly bears a 1970 date — two years before the school was officially founded.
Critics argue that instead of dispelling doubts, Tinubu’s latest statement adds to the opacity surrounding his academic credentials.
“Nigerians deserve transparency from their elected officials. When inconsistencies like this go unaddressed, it erodes public trust in leadership,” said Dr. Aminu Sule, a lecturer in political ethics at the University of Abuja.
In the past, calls have been made for President Tinubu to release his full academic records, including school transcripts and names of classmates, to put the matter to rest. So far, no such comprehensive disclosure has been made.
With a growing number of voices demanding clarity, analysts say the pressure may mount on the presidency to provide verifiable details — not just to silence critics, but to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s highest office.
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