A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU), United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) to ask President Bola Tinubu to vacate office over alleged certificate forgery.
Goldennewsng reports that there has been controversy surrounding the certificate of Tinubu after the Chicago State University (CSU) authorities released his academic records.
Frank, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that Tinubu apparently forged the certificate presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and he is bound to vacate the office of the President as demanded by the constitution.
He said the current certificate saga is an opportunity to reclaim the country from the gang of criminals, while calling on several Nigerian associations, including traditional rulers, to ensure that Tinubu vacates office as President.
Frank maintained that Tinubu must not be allowed to proceed as ECOWAS chairman or engage in negotiations on behalf of the sub-regional body because it would not be legitimate.
He said: “He is duty bound to vacate office as provided for in section 137(1)(j) of the constitution, which stipulates that no one would be legitimately elected as President of Nigeria if the person has “presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission. A constitutional matter with very grave implications.
“So we call on lovers of democracy, former Presidents, Rtd Justices of Supreme Court, traditional rulers, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, National Association of Nigerian Students, Nigeria Medical Association, Nigerian Bar Association and Civil Society Organizations to prepare for mass action to ensure that Tinubu vacates office as President.
“This is the last opportunity to take back our country from the gang of criminals who have hijacked the government.
“We also call on the authorities of ECOWAS to ask him to vacate the office of the chairman, otherwise, every decision that ECOWAS will take under his leadership will be null and void and will not be respected.
“Under his leadership, ECOWAS will not have credibility to speak on major issues in the continent including the coup in Niger, among others, since his legitimacy has now been eroded by reason of an established act of forgery.
“His actions negate democratic standards and charters to which Nigeria, ECOWAS and all African Union (AU) members subscribe.”