Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister Brushes Off Tinubu's Certificate Controversy as a 'Non-Issue

In response to the ongoing debate over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's academic records, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has underlined the administration's commitment to prioritize pressing developmental issues over what he deemed as "frivolous matters."

Speaking on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily program, Minister Tuggar characterized the controversy surrounding Tinubu's academic qualifications from Chicago State University (CSU) as a distraction. He emphasized that such issues do not overshadow the President's recent international engagements.

Tuggar noted that this controversy is reminiscent of previous challenges faced by former President Muhammadu Buhari regarding his academic qualifications. He stated that these certificate-related distractions should not deter the nation from addressing critical development challenges.

The Minister pointed out that international leaders and organizations have shown no interest in the matter during interactions with President Tinubu, implying that it has not affected the country's diplomatic relations.

In light of Nigeria's current economic challenges and its rapidly growing population, Tuggar urged Nigerians to focus on development and not become preoccupied with the certification issue.

The recent release of documents by CSU regarding Tinubu's education has further fueled the debate. These documents have implications for legal proceedings related to the President's academic history and have been sought by opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, in the context of the presidential election.

This statement by the Foreign Affairs Minister underscores the government's stance on maintaining its focus on national development amid political controversies.