- As Ex-VP Questions President Over Ties With Alleged Arms Dealer
Nigerians have faulted President Bola Tinubu’s claim that Belarusian businessman Alexander Zingman was his schoolmate at Chicago State University (CSU).
It would be recalled that Tinubu had during the launch of the renewed hope mechanisation programme in Abuja, on Monday, referred to Zingman as a “very good friend” and “neighbour” during his time at CSU.
The president during the event said, “My dear very good friend, the story must be clear here. Alex Zingman, how are you? Thank you and congratulations.”
“To all of you, Alex was my very good neighbour and went to the same school with me in Chicago.
“Never did we dream that I would be in this position as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that Alex will be a successful businessman from Belarus to bring about a very successful collaboration and bilateral relationship that would promote economic prosperity for the future of our two countries.
“I believe our university will be very proud that we are doing this here today.”
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However, less than 24 hours after Tinubu’s remark, Nigerians have come out to knock the president, saying his acclaimed school mate and neighbour was just 13 years old when he (Tinubu) was in Chicago University as he claimed.
According to documents being shared on social media, Zingman was 13 years old in 1979, the year Tinubu claimed to have graduated from the University.
Speaking on the matter, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Tinubu’s comment as “highly questionable”, pointing out that Zingman would have been too young to attend university at the time Tinubu claimed to have studied there.
Atiku, who spoke through his media office, also raised fresh concerns over Tinubu’s association with Zingman, citing multiple international media reports linking the businessman to questionable transactions in Africa’s mining sector and arms trade.
“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,” the statement reads.
“By the year 1979, when President Tinubu claims to have graduated from CSU, Mr. Zingman would have been only 13 years old.
“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?”
Atiku also challenged the president to explain how he reportedly presented a certificate dated 1970 from Government College, Lagos, an institution founded in 1972, to gain admission into Richard Daley College in 1973.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
