A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has defended President Bola Tinubu over renewed controversy surrounding his academic credentials, insisting the opposition has no valid argument against the President.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Hassan said the Nigerian Constitution only requires a candidate seeking the presidency to possess a school certificate or its equivalent.
He argued that the equivalent of a school certificate includes the ability to read and write, stressing that academic qualifications alone do not determine leadership ability.
Drawing a comparison with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Hassan noted that the billionaire dropped out of Harvard University but went on to become one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.
He also maintained that President Tinubu has achieved more in less than four years in office than some past leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, and those criticising his academic records.
Hassan further dismissed allegations that Tinubu submitted a fake university certificate, arguing that Chicago State University has never declared the President’s certificate to be fraudulent.
His comments come amid renewed debate over the academic credentials President Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.