Atiku: Nnaji’s exit a cover-up for another scandal 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Federal Government of attempting to cover up yet another scandal following the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

Nnaji stepped down on Tuesday after a Premium Times investigation alleged that he submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates to the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023. Both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the National Youth Service Corps reportedly disowned the documents.

Reacting in a post on X on Wednesday, Atiku described the resignation as an “attempt to whitewash a national disgrace,” saying Nnaji should have been dismissed and prosecuted instead of being allowed to “quietly exit through the backdoor.”

He wrote, “The resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has once again exposed the deep moral crisis in this government. What should be a matter of national shame is now being disguised as a voluntary resignation—an attempt to whitewash yet another scandal that typifies the forgery-ridden character of this administration.

“Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. By permitting him to quietly exit through the backdoor, the government has again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.”

Atiku also criticised the Department of State Services (DSS), saying it cleared Nnaji despite glaring discrepancies in his credentials, while it had previously screened out former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai over “security concerns.”

“What makes this even more embarrassing,” he added, “is that the same DSS which screened out El-Rufai is the very agency that cleared Uche Nnaji.”

The PDP chieftain linked the controversy to what he called a “pattern of deceit that begins from the very top,” referencing past controversies surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic and identity records.

Atiku further called for an independent probe into the credentials of all Federal Executive Council members, including the President, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those in power.

“Until this cleansing is done,” he said, “Nigeria will continue to sink deeper into moral decay, economic ruin, and global embarrassment.”