BREAKING: Peter Obi blasts Tinubu over alleged move to withhold US court records

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over reports that he asked a United States court to withhold records relating to his past, describing the development as “profoundly embarrassing.”

Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday and titled, “A President and the Endless Question of His Past.”

He said leadership requires the courage and humility to confront one’s history, provide explanations where legitimate questions arise and accept responsibility for past actions.

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“Leadership, in my humble view, demands the courage and humility to confront one’s history — to acknowledge mistakes, provide candid explanations where questions arise, and, where necessary, apologise and seek forgiveness,” Obi said.

“True authority is strengthened, not diminished, when a leader accepts responsibility rather than seeks to shield uncomfortable aspects of the past from legitimate scrutiny.”

He noted that questions surrounding a leader’s educational credentials should be addressed openly and transparently.

“This becomes particularly important when questions concern educational credentials. Issues surrounding foundational schooling — primary and secondary — should not remain unresolved or be addressed primarily through legal proceedings,” he said.

“Nigerians deserve clear, credible and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past.”

Obi said his loyalty to Nigeria remained unwavering, adding that he had never sought citizenship of another country.

“As a citizen of no other country, who has never sought foreign citizenship even when doing so became fashionable, my loyalty to Nigeria and my faith in her destiny remain unshaken,” he said.

Obi said he prayed for Nigeria on Sunday and expressed concern about what he described as the direction of the country.

“Yesterday, August 30, being Sunday, I fervently prayed for our nation and for those entrusted with the solemn responsibility of leadership. I found myself deeply saddened by the direction in which our country is heading,” he said.

“It is profoundly embarrassing that we have reached a point where a sitting President is asking a foreign court to withhold records concerning his past, particularly records relating to matters of legitimate public interest.”

Obi said his major concern was the example the development could set for Nigerians, particularly young people.

“My deepest concern is the example this sets for more than 200 million Nigerians, particularly the over 30 million young people in schools,” he said.

“The nation’s highest office should exemplify integrity, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership.”

He added that while nobody has a perfect past, leaders must be willing to confront their history with honesty and humility.

“An imperfect past is part of the human condition. What matters is the willingness to confront it with humility, honesty and deep apology, to make amends where necessary and, when circumstances so demand, to place the interests of the nation above personal ambition,” he said.

Obi further urged Nigeria’s political leaders to recognise that individual political ambitions are temporary while the nation and its institutions must endure.

“When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures?” he asked.

“The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations.”

He maintained that Nigeria’s national interest must take precedence over individual ambitions.

“Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,” Obi said.

He concluded the statement with his popular political slogan: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

Meanwhile, Newpost Africa had earlier reported that President Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for a three-week working vacation in Europe, with London, United Kingdom, listed as his first destination.

As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had yet to respond to Obi’s latest criticism of the President.