By Kayode Fasua
Amid mud splashing by political detractors on the fidelity of academic qualifications of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a rights group has risen in defence of the APC standard- bearer, describing him as the most academically competent among his peers.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on Thursday, officials of Thoroughbred Rights Crusaders (TRC), a democracy cum human rights protection outfit, said they had carried out unassailable research works and come to the conclusion that those criticising Tinubu over his academic qualifications were only full of bile, as their allegations were not credible and were without substance.
Speaking for the group in an address, the group’s President, Comrade Olusegun Oyeyemi, and secretary general, Mrs Sherifat Akiode, noted that a meticulous assessment of Tinubu’s educational, professional and political career, especially his days as student of Chicago State University in Illinois, United States of America, stood him out.
“As can be attested to by all available documents anywhere in the world, Tinubu went to the United States in 1975, where he attended Richard Daley College, Chicago Illinois. There, he earned himself a place in the honours list of the College.
“He subsequently proceeded to the Chicago State University, Illinois, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management).
“During his undergraduate years, Tinubu, being an exemplary student in the mould of a whizkid, was honoured with three distinct awards namely, Outstanding Student’s Award, The University Scholar’s Award, and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance.
“On his arrival in the U.S. in 1975 and with the support of an ever-adoring mother, this courageous youth, faced with an unflinching zeal to succeed, took on such menial jobs as dishwashing, night-guard duty and cab-driving, to see himself through the initial difficulties of school at the Richard Daley College, Chicago, Illinois.
“The brilliance of this young Nigerian showed in his ability to make the honours’ list of Richard Daley College. He subsequently transferred to the Chicago State University, Illinois, graduating with honours in 1979 and earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Management),” the group recounted.
It explained further that in Tinubu’s first year at the Chicago State University, he was given the rare privilege to partly teach other students of his Faculty remedial tutorial classes, adding that most of his colleagues and contemporaries at the university attributed their improved grades to his tutorial lectures.
“Throughout his undergraduate years, young Bola was on the Dean’s List and was honoured with the Outstanding Student’s Award, the University Scholar’s Award and the Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance. He was also awarded the prestigious Sumna cum laude for scoring 3.54 out of possible 4.0 GP.
“With his successful academic profile, young Bola Tinubu contested and won his first political election as the President of the Accounting Society of the institution in his final year at the University.
“Upon graduation with honours and several awards, Bola Tinubu cut his professional teeth at the American-based Arthur Anderson, Deloitte Haskins and Sells (now called Deloitte Haskins and Touche) and GTE Service Corporation-the largest Communication and Utility Company in the United States of America,” the group added.
It similarly recalled that Tinubu as governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2003, won many awards far above any Nigerian politician dead or alive based on his amazing transformation of one-time bedlam that was Lagos megalopolis to a modern city.
“For his excellent performance as the Executive Governor of Lagos State of Nigeria (1999 – 2007), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu received several awards. These include Best Governor in Nigeria for Year 2000 by the Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce; Y2002 Best Practices Prize in improving the living environment, awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works and the UN Habitat Group; Y2000 Best Computerized Government in Nigeria Award by the Computer Association of Nigeria.
“Tinubu was also conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Law Degree by the Abia State University in recognition of his immense contribution to democracy, good governance and development of Nigeria. He is the proud recipient of numerous other chieftaincy titles and a patron of many professional and social organisations, the group further observed.
The TRC thus urged the APC presidential candidate’s traducers to retreat to their shells and instead focus on constructive engagement in dissecting the programmes highlighted by the presidential candidates as contained in their respective manifestoes.
“While we concur that prospective voters have the inalienable right to probe into the past of political aspirants and candidates aspiring to govern them, we take exception to deliberate ploys to falsify history and victimise innocent candidates on the unholy altar of political mudslinging,” it counselled.
