‘How did Bola graduate before Government College Lagos existed?’, Kashim Shettima replied after mocking Atiku
By KEMI KASUMU
The ADC campaign council subsequently questioned Tinubu’s educational history, citing information in documents associated with his Chicago State University records. According to Shaibu, a document in the university records listed Tinubu as having graduated from Government College Lagos in 1970, although the school was established in 1974.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has criticised Vice President Kashim Shettima for mocking former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his attendance at the Kano School of Hygiene, challenging him to address questions surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s educational records.
The council said Shettima’s remarks at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday diverted attention from the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, including rising food prices, transportation costs and fuel expenses.
In a statement issued on October 26, 2026, the council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the Vice President of ridiculing Atiku’s educational background instead of explaining the Federal Government’s response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Shaibu defended Atiku’s education, arguing that his attendance at the Kano School of Hygiene was nothing to be ashamed of, as millions of Nigerians had pursued education through institutions available to them before building their careers.
“What, exactly, is shameful about Atiku’s education? He completed secondary school, pursued further training and built a life through work. Millions of Nigerians have travelled the same road,” the statement said.
The ADC campaign council subsequently questioned Tinubu’s educational history, citing information in documents associated with his Chicago State University records.
According to Shaibu, a document in the university records listed Tinubu as having graduated from Government College Lagos in 1970, although the school was established in 1974.
The council challenged Shettima to explain the alleged discrepancy rather than criticise Atiku for attending an institution that existed during his period of study.
It also raised questions about the name appearing on Tinubu’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Shaibu said the certificate bore the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle,” adding that Atiku had challenged the discrepancy in court.
The campaign council further referred to litigation in the United States concerning the release of Tinubu’s Chicago State University records, insisting that questions surrounding documents submitted in connection with his presidential election should be addressed.
It also cited the 1993 forfeiture of funds in Chicago arising from a narcotics investigation, arguing that the historical matter remained relevant to public scrutiny.
The allegations and interpretations presented by the ADC campaign council were not independently established in the statement.
Turning to the economy, Shaibu challenged Shettima’s suggestion that Atiku’s proposed policies could lead Nigeria back into poverty.
He cited World Bank poverty estimates and concerns about food insecurity to argue that economic hardship was already affecting millions of Nigerians.
“Poverty is not a future threat to these families. It is the life they are struggling through today,” the statement said.
Shaibu added that Nigerians struggling to afford transportation to work and food for their families did not need lectures about poverty from government officials.
He argued that the Vice President’s remarks demonstrated what the opposition considered a disconnect between the Tinubu administration and the everyday experiences of citizens.
The ADC campaign council also defended Atiku’s proposal for a targeted and capped subsidy tied to petrol refined in Nigeria, with independent auditing mechanisms.
It challenged the Federal Government to provide figures demonstrating why such a proposal would be financially unworkable and to offer alternative measures capable of reducing fuel prices.
“If Shettima thinks it cannot be funded, he should show his figures and offer a better way to lower prices. Insulting Atiku will not fill a cooking pot, pay a bus fare or put fuel in a tank,” Shaibu said.
The statement maintained that Atiku had no reason to be ashamed of his educational background, accusing Shettima of making light of the struggles of Nigerians who had pursued education through available opportunities.
Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, the ADC campaign council predicted that voters would use the ballot box to express their dissatisfaction with the administration’s performance.
Shaibu described Tinubu’s emergence as president in 2023 as an electoral mistake that Nigerians would seek to correct at the next election.
He expressed confidence that voters would hold the President and Vice President accountable for the country’s economic conditions and their public statements.
The statement concluded that the anger of Nigerians struggling with the cost of living would be reflected in their voting decisions in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The allegations and political claims in the statement represent the position of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. The statement did not include a response from Shettima or the Presidency to the specific accusations raised.
