Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has said that US President Donald Trump called Nigeria a “disgraced country” because a certificate forger was allowed to become president.

Obi made this known while speaking at his official declaration for the ADC presidential ticket in Akwa Ibom on Saturday.

His words were seen as a jab at President Bola Tinubu, referring to controversies surrounding his academic credentials.

“I went to Indonesia and asked their election organisers about the qualification to be president. They said if someone forged their qualification, they would be jailed,” Obi said. “Here, they treat it as a pre-election matter. Someone forges a certificate or doesn’t have one, it’s allowed. That’s why the American president called Nigeria a ‘disgraced country.’”

This remark occurs amidst the ongoing controversy over Tinubu's Chicago State University certificate.

Opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar had requested court permission to subpoena Tinubu’s academic records, citing discrepancies in publicly available documents. Tinubu filed a motion to prevent the release of these records, and the Nigerian Supreme Court subsequently dismissed new evidence, reaffirming his victory in the 2023 elections.

Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, did not promptly reply to requests for comment. The issue continues to spark debate over Nigeria's leadership credibility and electoral integrity.

ASA