Reactions are following the reported moves by Nigeria’s president Bola Tinubu to block the release of his files by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, and other United States agencies.
A former deputy national publicity secretary of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has urged Bola Tinubu, to resign before the FBI and the CIA disgrace him with his past activities and background.
Earlier this year, Nigerian investigative journalist David Hundeyin sued 5 US government agencies in conjunction with Aaron Greenspan of Plainsite, for their refusal to honour FOIA requests regarding the contents of the files they maintain on Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Weeks later they were informed that the agencies will comply with the FOIA.
FBI said it would release approximately 2,500 documents relating to Tinubu in its database in October.
The documents are expected to provide more information about Tinubu’s time in the United States, including when he entered the country, under what name he entered, and his activities while there.
The documents are also expected to shed light on Tinubu’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking in the 1990s.
However, Tinubu has taken legal steps to stop the FBI, CIA and other United States services from releasing documents relating to him.
Reacting to the development, Frank, in a statement issued on Friday, wondered why Tinubu was attempting to block the FBI and CIA from releasing records concerning him if he had nothing to hide.
He said Tinubu’s legal steps further confirmed that there are severe records about him that he does not want Nigerians and the world to know.
He said, “Again by trying to block the FBI and CIA from releasing records concerning you, you have inadvertently confirmed ‘irreparable’ damage that those records would do to you.
“This move has confirmed that you have a serious record that you don’t want Nigerians or the world to know.
“The right thing for you to do is to resign now before you are disgraced out of office by the imminent release of records of your past activities by the FBI and CIA.
“You cannot stop Nigerians from asking questions or the American security agencies from doing their job.
“You tried to stop the Chicago State University (CSU) from releasing your records, but you failed and you will again fail in your attempt to block the FBI and CIA from releasing documents that would shine a light on your past and background.
“If you have decided to serve the people, then you should submit yourself to the people to ask you questions, to know your background, to know who you are, to know the school you went to.”
