Folarin Kehinde

The documents released by Chicago State University have sparked controversy as they appear to depict Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the country’s president, as a female.

It would be recall that the revelation came to light through an investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, who brought attention to the discrepancies in these documents through a social media post.

This development follows the release of Tinubu’s academic records by Chicago State University, which were made public on Monday in response to requests from Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

Upon the release of these documents, several commentators raised concerns regarding their accuracy. Hundeyin, upon analysing the documents, pointed out an anomaly, stating, “The set of documents from @ChicagoState pertaining to ‘Bola A. Tinubu,’ obtained under subpoena by Atiku Abubakar, is available below. Spoiler alert: ‘Bola A. Tinubu’ was a woman.”

This revelation was initially brought to light by social commentator Farooq Kperogi, who expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the transcript used by Tinubu to gain admission to Chicago State University. Kperogi noted multiple errors in the document, including inaccuracies in the date and social security number. He stated, “We await what CSU has to say about this.”

The discovery of these discrepancies has reignited long-standing speculations, suggesting that Tinubu may have assumed the identity of a female named Bola A. Tinubu to pursue education in the United States.

One of Nigeria’s prominent politicians and a consistent presidential contestant, Atiku Abubakar, has been pressuring for the release of Tinubu’s academic credentials, which he claims are crucial to his case against the Nigerian leader. The case is now taken to the apex court in the country, the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The Executive Members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have directed their members to resume work at the nation’s seaports and oil and gas platform.

The union had earlier ordered closure of all the nation’s Seaports, Jetties, Oil & Gas platforms and Terminals in compliance with the organized labour’s directive on the indefinite strike which was to commence on Tuesday.

Recall that labour had directed its affiliate member Unions across the country to mobilise and shut down the country following the refusal of government to adhere to the seven points demand made by the NLC and the TUC to ameliorate the suffering of workers.

But in a statement on Monday night, President-General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said an agreement had been reached with government and the strike would no longer hold.

He said during an emergency meeting between the federal government and labour leaders, the NLC and TUC jointly agreed to suspend the strike to allow for implementation of their demands.

According to Adeyanju, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had directed that all its affiliate members should direct their members to return to work.

A statement signed by Com John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN reads in part thus: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly suspend the indefinite strike billed for October 3, 2023 following the removal of fuel subsidy.

“It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress had directed its affiliate member Unions across the country to mobilize and shut down the country following the refusal of government to adhere to the seven points demand made by the NLC and the TUC to ameliorate the suffering of the teeming Nigerian Workers and the impoverished masses of the country.

“The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju, in the same vein equally ordered that all the nation’s Seaports, Jetties, Oil & Gas platforms and Terminals be shut down accordingly for operations.

“But after the outcome of emergency meeting summoned today, October 2, 2023, between the federal government and labour leaders was held, the NLC and TUC had jointly agreed to suspend the strike to allow for implementation of the NLC demands. Consequently, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had directed that all its affiliate members should direct their members to return to work tomorrow, October 3, 2023 as the planned indefinite strike has been suspended.

“Comrade Adeyanju, the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress had equally directed that all members of the Maritime sector should resume work tomorrow as instructed by the Nigeria Labour Congress.”

A former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday, recalled an event where the national flag was misrepresented, prompting caution against the misuse of national symbols such as the anthem and flag.

Fashola made the observation on Monday during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Empowering Tomorrow: A New Vision for Nigeria, a special programme on the 63rd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence celebrated annually on October 1.

“Just this afternoon, I was asked to hoist a flag of Nigeria,” he said.

“By the time the flag unfurled, I saw that there was a coat of arms in the middle and I whispered to my host that ‘this is not the flag of Nigeria’. Nigeria’s flag does not have a coat of arms in the middle. It is green, white, and green.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that the National Orientation Agency, which has offices in all the states of the country, produces and sells the flag.

He underscored the need to deal with “some of the small things that matter”, noting that Nigerians must be intentional.

“When I was in primary school, these were the symbolisms of those Independence Day parades, Children’s Day parades, and this was how we were taught to stand up or maintain our position whenever we heard Nigeria’s national anthem being rendered,” Fashola said.

“You sit today and you shudder in your skin what happens today, what people have been taught when the national anthem is rendered.”

The former governor of Lagos also spoke out against the rendition of the national anthem “at every little event”, including when the president appears at a social event, saying it is to be sung as the symbol of the country’s sovereignty.

“I have had cause to ask people not to sing the anthem for me, either as governor or minister, because I’m not a sovereign. It’s a projection of our minds,” he said.

“These are, for me, the important things to talk about and that’s why I say this anniversary provides an opportunity for reflection and, indeed, inflexion.”

Over thirty persons have reportedly died in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, following a fire explosion from an illegal oil refining site.

The fire, according to a source from the community, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emanated from a local refining cooking pot, which was connected to a pit where several persons were scooping crude oil extracted from a pipeline.

It was gathered that some of the victims burnt beyond recognition, while others died before they were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

The incident was said to have occurred late Sunday night.

The Rivers State Police Command is yet to make an official statement about the tragic incident.