Nigerians Deserve To Know Tinubu’s Profile — Yoruba Union Condemns Non-Release of FBI, DEA Records

A Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain why records reportedly held by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) concerning him have not been made public.

The group urged Tinubu to allow the US agencies to release any records they may hold relating to allegations of drug trafficking and investigations involving the President, saying Nigerians have a right to know the background of anyone seeking to occupy the country’s highest political office.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and Home Director, Princess Balogun, questioned what they described as efforts to prevent the public from accessing information concerning Tinubu’s past.

The group alleged that the President was afraid of his past and was using available means to prevent the release of the records.

“If Tinubu doesn’t have anything hiding why would he block FBI and DEA not to release his file case which he was indicted for drug trafficking and how he fortified his properties,” the organisation said.

The Yoruba Union maintained that Nigerians deserved access to the full profile and history of anyone seeking to govern the country, particularly an incumbent president seeking another term in office.

“Nigerians deserve to know the profile of the person that want to contest for the highest office in the country. If Tinubu is desperate and blocking all ways not to allow his record to be released then he doesn’t deserve to be a Nigeria president,” it said.

The organisation also questioned the purpose of security screening and profiling of political candidates if citizens could not independently scrutinise information about their backgrounds.

“Why is the essence of profiling people who to contest for public office by security agencies if Tinubu doesn’t want himself to be screened by Nigerians,” the statement added.

According to the group, Nigeria belongs to its citizens and should not be treated as the personal estate of any political leader where information concerning public officials could be concealed.

It said Nigerians should be allowed to examine Tinubu’s record before deciding whether to support his political ambitions.

“Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said Nigeria is not Tinubu estate or palace where he can hide things from people not to see. Nigerians need to know him before voting for him,” the organisation said.

The group further accused the President of setting what it described as a dangerous precedent by allegedly resisting public scrutiny of his past.

“Tinubu is laying a bad precedent for generations to come, and posterity will not be kind to him,” it said.

The Yoruba Union also questioned why Tinubu, given his age and long involvement in Nigerian politics, would be concerned about the publication of records concerning his past.

“What is Tinubu is afraid of at his age, while Nigerians knows that he’s desperate to recontest for president, why is he afraid of his past that he doesn’t want Nigerians to know about,” it asked.

The organisation argued that allowing politicians with unresolved allegations to seek the presidency without full public scrutiny could encourage other controversial figures to pursue similar ambitions.

It cited Afolabi Michael, popularly known online as “KC Luxury”, and Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi, in making its argument, alleging that both had criminal backgrounds.

“People like Afolabi Michael, popularly known online as ‘KC Luxury,’ a drug lord, and Hushpuppi will one day declare to become a president since a precedent has been made,” the group said.

The organisation insisted that the presidency was a public trust and that anyone seeking to occupy the office should be subjected to rigorous scrutiny.

It called on Tinubu to allow any relevant records held by US law enforcement agencies to become public, arguing that Nigerians should be allowed to examine the information and draw their own conclusions.

The Yoruba Union maintained that transparency was particularly important because Tinubu is the sitting President and has political ambitions beyond his current tenure.

The group argued that citizens should be able to make informed electoral decisions based on the records and backgrounds of political candidates rather than being denied information that could help them assess their suitability for public office.

It also warned that attempts to suppress or restrict information about political leaders could further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The organisation ultimately challenged Tinubu to allow the FBI and DEA records to be released, saying that if the allegations against him were unfounded, public disclosure would provide an opportunity for the facts to be independently examined.