Atiku camp queries Tinubu’s classmate claim at Chicago State University

The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised serious questions over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent claim that Belarusian businessman Alex Zingman was his classmate at Chicago State University (CSU).

During the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Mechanisation Programme in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu made the remark in what appeared to be a lighthearted comment. However, the Atiku Media Office says the statement has further deepened doubts surrounding the president’s long-disputed academic records.

In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president’s team pointed out inconsistencies in Tinubu’s claim, noting that public records list Zingman as being born in 1966. Given that Tinubu graduated from CSU in 1979, Zingman would have been only 13 years old at the time — an implausible scenario.

The statement further raised concerns over Tinubu’s association with Zingman, who has been linked in media reports to allegations of arms trafficking and financial scandals in countries such as Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Are Nigerians to believe that a 13-year-old Belarusian prodigy graduated from an American university alongside Bola Ahmed Tinubu?” the statement queried, describing the claim as both troubling and baffling.

The Atiku Media Office also revisited longstanding questions about the authenticity of the president’s educational credentials, including discrepancies in documents allegedly issued by Government College, Lagos, and questions over the absence of verifiable classmates from his academic history.

It urged President Tinubu to provide clear and verifiable evidence of his educational background, stating that transparency and truth are essential responsibilities tied to his oath of office.

“The presidency is not a sanctuary for secrets but a platform for integrity. Nigerians deserve clarity, not confusion,” the statement concluded.