By: Ifeanyi Izeze
Does anybody still need to told that the Presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has put Nigeria on a very low and loose moral pedestal with our collective values, dignity and decency being trampled upon on a daily basis? Is it not clear that this Presidency has elevated deceit and falsehood to State craft? Sad indeed!
The President’s unveiling of his University of Chicago classmate and/or schoolmate, is that our concern as Nigerians now? How does that resolve or rather ameliorate the gross blanket hardship in the land? How does that address the high cost of everything particularly foodstuffs in the market? You’re the Nigerian President today, whether you had classmates or schoolmates, does matter now? How does that address the widespread insecurity of lives and property and the spate of senseless bloodsheds across the country?
The issue was raised in 2022 in the events to the run-up of the 2023 presidential election to let Nigerians have idea of the integrity of the man who is singing “Emi lo kan” all over the place. But as America refused to release the information as concerns the then candidate Bola Tinubu, he went ahead into the election and was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As usual with us Nigerians, we accepted the declaration despite the obvious Chicago controversy. For two years, he has been reigning as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So why dragging us back to this Chicago University alleged perjury again; are you not already a president?
Methink obviously that Tinubu’s ambivalence is more of a spiritual omen than just casual flip-flopping. But let’s leave it just there!
If the President and his party, APC, are not afraid of the coalition, why are they so jittery beyond their superficial braggadocios outbursts? If you are not really scared why all these flip flopping in attempt to counter and/or clear allegations that even the accusers have forgotten and moved on?
Now, the tragedy of the current Nigerian situation is that The Presidency and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) are completely in campaign mode halfway into a 4- year term. Why the panic mode if they are sure ‘all is well’ with their governance performance rating within these two years in office as a government that came to ‘renew hope’ in an increasing hopeless situation across all strata of our national life?
Is it not curious that they are so jittery of the opposition and the emergent coalition that governance and leadership have been completely relegated or even outrightly abandoned? Now the President and all his soldiers are on full-blown re-election campaign.
What was the need of what appeared to be a light-hearted revelation — that a certain Mr. Alex Zingman, a Belarusian ‘businessman’ was his classmate at the controversial Chicago State University (CSU)?
And why did the President choose the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme in Abuja to unfold this his only living classmate? Does Mr President at all have any adviser(s) who counsels him on his public pronouncements?
Does he have professional handlers aside the guerrilla journalism aides that daily speak as if they are the opposition spokespersons? Why was this classmate blunder not pinpointed during the house-keeping review of the President’s speech before it was given to him to read in the public?
Is the Belarusian only living classmate of President Tinubu such a great and credible person that unveiling him publicly would be a plus to the President’s second term aspirations? To me, the answer is a very big No!
A search and basic review of publicly available information immediately calls the President’s claim into question. Mr. Alex Zingman, a Belarusian businessman whose name features prominently in controversial dealings across Africa — including allegations of arms trafficking and financial improprieties in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo — is listed in various reports as being born in 1966. By the year 1979, when President Tinubu claims to have graduated from Chicago State University, Mr. Zingman would have been only 13 years old.
As raised in a widely published Press Statement released in Abuja by the Atiku Media Office (AMO), “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?”
President Tinubu’s casual association with a man whose international reputation is mired in scandals and alleged criminalities should have been of concern to his aides that’s if the President himself pretends to care less. But, no, as anything goes in this country under this government.
How could a man of global infamy as alleged (Alex Zingman) – the arms-linked tycoon -share the same seat whether in memories or in a script of fiction in our President’s mind so much so for him to publicly introduce him as his “friend and classmate” in the university?
This Alex Zingman is a ‘businessman’ with all kinds of businesses across Africa, and Mr President is in business with him, after all Chicago, whether Chicago State University or the University of Illinois Chicago is proud of them, and binds them together.
As remarked by my brother Prof Chris Nwaokobia Jnr. in a commentary, “Did you see that Alex man bowing and laughing like the ‘dealer’ he is, validating the falsehood and giving Mr President a nod? They are friends, ‘schoolmates’ and ‘classmates’ and indeed birds of the same fluff, ‘dealers’ through and through.
Mr. President, your oath of office binds you not just to protect our nation but to honour its truth. The Presidency is not a sanctuary for secrets — it is a platform for integrity. And as such, Nigerians await not tales of Alexes from distant lands but proof, clarity, and the simple dignity of facts in this matter of your Chicago University studentship. Short and simple bros!
But wait a minute, before we rest this issue about Mr President and his bunkmate Alex Zingman, have you wondered if Mr President and his Party the APC truly consider the opposition and the emergent coalition a no threat?
With 2027 two years away, if they’re so sure of their performance rating thus far, why are they weaving so much debauchery and false propaganda in all matters as concerns governance and our national life including contriving and procuring gales of defections from the other Parties to the APC? No be mortal fear de catch them so?
(IFEANYI IZEZE lives in Abuja and can be reached: iizeze@yahoo.com; 234-8033043009)
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