The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has thrown a gauntlet at Nigeria's revered elder statesmen, demanding they break their "graveyard silence" on President Bola Tinubu's past records. The group specifically called out former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, along with former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, to address lingering questions arising from a US legal battle.
According to the Forum's President, Chief Akin Malaolu, recent court filings by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States confirmed that its records relate to a criminal investigation into drug-trafficking offences. President Tinubu was identified as the subject. Malaolu stressed that while this isn't a conviction, it's a serious matter for any Nigerian patriot.
This development, the group argues, directly impacts Nigeria's transparency, integrity, and international standing. The Yoruba Ronu Forum questioned whether the Federal Government, when Obasanjo was President and Tinubu was Lagos State Governor, did all it could to uncover the facts. They speculated that Obasanjo's silence might be linked to reports of his support for Tinubu's rumoured 2027 re-election bid. Political interests could be overshadowing principles.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, and former President Goodluck Jonathan are also urged to speak up. These are figures who have previously lent their voices to national issues concerning democracy and the country's reputation. The Forum insists they should demand that the truth about the US investigations be made public, to the extent legally possible.
Malaolu clarified that this isn't a call to declare the President guilty. Instead, it's a demand for transparency and accountability. If the records show no wrongdoing, full disclosure should settle the matter. If legitimate questions persist, Nigerians deserve a credible process to get answers. "What is unacceptable is silence," he stated.
The group warned against treating the US legal challenge as just another political drama. They believe Nigeria's leaders of conscience have a duty to act now. This will allow citizens to understand the facts and decide on the appropriate path forward. Citing rapid geopolitical shifts seen in countries like Venezuela and Panama, they reminded Nigerians that "a stitch in time, they say, saves nine."
The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum further questioned if Nigeria was expected to prioritise US interests in withholding sensitive law-enforcement records over Nigerians' right to know about their President. They asserted that Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, has every right to demand accountability from its highest office holder.
The Forum advised President Tinubu to use this opportunity to clear the air. He can do this by supporting the fullest lawful disclosure of relevant records. Should credible evidence emerge showing his continued presidency is incompatible with the integrity required for the office, the group suggested that resignation would be the honourable course. This would spare Nigeria further embarrassment.
"Nigeria is bigger than Tinubu. Nigeria is bigger than Obasanjo. Nigeria is bigger than any individual, political party, ethnic group or political interest," the statement concluded. "The time for silence is over. The time to act is now. Nigerians deserve the truth. Nigeria deserves accountability. And Nigeria’s leaders of conscience must not wait until it is too late to speak."