2023: Dele Alake speaks on Tinubu’s certificate, identity controversy

The Director of Strategic Communication of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake has claimed the certificates of the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, are genuine and authentic.

Naija News reports that the former Lagos State Commissioner of Information made this known during an interview on Channels Television, on Sunday.

This is coming amidst the controversy that has trailed Tinubu’s certificates and identity, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Speaking on the matter, Alake said the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s certificates had been resolved and should not have been a topic anymore.

Alake said the former Governor of Lagos had already informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his academic certificates were stolen while he was on self-exile.

The former Commissioner also refuted claims that the real name of the APC presidential candidate is ‘Amoda Ogunlere’, describing such allegations are fake and baseless.

He said: “Have you ever seen his document showing the name Amoda or whatever? People say we heard, we heard, rumour-mongering nobody has ever shown a document like to say this is the certificate with Amoda or whatever.

“I always say that Nigerians should subject this thing to critical analysis. I am not saying that people should not carry rumours because, in political environments or political games like this, opponents must dig anything; any dirt, to throw at you. But the point is he who alleges must prove. You must show documentary evidence, I have seen none.

“The issue of primary school you have just mentioned. Let me clear the air today. If you are not old enough, there are people around you who are old enough to know that in those days, when people were indigent and schools were not as many as we have today; a lot of people were indigent and couldn’t afford the school to fees to go to formal institutions and at that time a lot of people did read at home and passed their exams.

“Today I can name you professors who never went to secondary schools who passed their exams from home. Let me even shock you further. The Queen of England of the whole world, she never went to any formal school, not elementary, not any. Go and research it; that is the Queen of England.“