The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent efforts to obstruct the release of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) papers associated with his past and urged for transparency and responsibility.
The rights organisation voiced alarm about the current developments involving Tinubu’s records in a statement that was signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko.
Like their earlier unsuccessful attempt to prevent the disclosure of his academic records at Chicago State University, HURIWA stated that Tinubu’s legal team’s attempts to obstruct the release of the documents have raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the public sphere.
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Bola A. Tinubu’s attorneys in the United States have submitted motions to intervene in a current Freedom of Information lawsuit against several U.S. government agencies, including the FBI and the CIA, HURIWA recalled. She added that the lawsuit relates to documents that could shed light on Bola A. Tinubu’s identity and his activities over the years.
The US Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are among the defendants in this civil action. Following a FOI request made by IT expert Aaron Greenspan, Tinubu filed the application as an intervenor, the statement read.
HURIWA questioned whether President Tinubu fully understands the fundamental democratic principles rooted in openness and full disclosure, especially given his role as the leader of over 200 million people, while acknowledging the urgent need for transparency regarding President Tinubu’s past.
HURIWA also expressed worry about the outstanding questions regarding President Tinubu’s background, including claims made by academic institutions that have denied any evidence of his affiliation and raised questions about his basic and secondary schooling.
The organisation voiced concern over Tinubu’s steadfast unwillingness to reveal the identify of his father and the facts of his past.
His refusal to describe his interactions with American police in connection with a drug trafficking probe is equally puzzling. Recent attempts to learn the facts about this criminal probe have run into legal roadblocks, which has added to the general lack of transparency, according to the rights group.
The advocacy group emphasised that it is time for the release of Tinubu’s alleged criminal papers and encouraged American authorities to not be swayed by his attempts to obstruct openness. “Nigerians have a right to know Bola A. Tinubu’s real identity.”
HURIWA further emphasised that Nigerians have a fundamental right to know the history of their president. However, the organisation expressed disappointment that President Tinubu tends to use tactics to thwart such revelations every time a chance presents itself for Nigerians to learn more about the personality of the guy they refer to as president.
Bola A. Tinubu was urged to exhibit the qualities of a statesman and understand that obstructing the search for information about him only tarnishes the reputation of a nation with over 200 million people. HURIWA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting openness, transparency, and the rights of the Nigerian people to learn the truth about their leaders.
