Fresh controversy has erupted over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic records after he introduced a Belarusian businessman, Alex Zingman, as his former classmate at Chicago State University during a public event in Abuja on Monday, June 23.
Speaking at the launch of the Renewed Hope Agriculture Mechanisation Programme, President Tinubu pointed to a man in the crowd, stating, “To all of you, Alex was my very good neighbor, and went to the same school with me in Chicago. Never did we dream that I would be in this position as President of Nigeria and Alex, a successful businessman from Belarus.” …CONTINUE READING
The man, identified as Alex, stood and acknowledged the applause. However, the president’s comment swiftly ignited scrutiny online and among political observers.
Investigations quickly linked the man to Alex Zingman, a Belarusian national allegedly involved in controversial arms deals and financial activities across Africa.
Belarusian businessman Alex Zingman was recently paraded as a classmate of President Bola Tinubu at the Chicago State University (CSU). [EU Political Report]
More troubling, records show Zingman was born in 1966, a timeline that contradicts Tinubu’s claim of graduating from Chicago State University in 1979. If Zingman were his classmate, he would have been only 13 years old at the time.
The development has reignited doubts about Tinubu’s long-contested academic history. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp reacted sharply on Tuesday, calling the president’s comments “deeply troubling.”
“Rather than evoke confidence, the claim has triggered more questions than answers,” Atiku’s media office said, describing Zingman as a “man whose international reputation is mired in scandal.”
