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Chicago State University has locked its X, formerly known as Twitter, microblogging handle from the general public as Nigerians intensify pressure on President Bola Tinubu’s controversial certificate from the institution.

With a padlock icon appearing on the account, only “confirmed followers” of the institution could see its tweets now, contrary to how it was before.

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A notification telling the general public that the institution had locked its X handle from the general public reads: “These posts are protected. Only confirmed followers have access to @ChicagoState’s posts and complete profile. Tap the ‘Follow’ button to send a follow request.”

Earlier in August, Mr Abubakar requested court approval to subpoena Mr Tinubu’s files domiciled with CSU because he believed the documents would clarify glaring inconsistencies in the president’s background, including publicly available documents that suggested the institution, in the 1970s admitted a female student bearing Bola Tinubu born on March 29, 1954.

In pushback against Mr Abubakar’s legal move, which could expose his academic record, Mr Tinubu also filed a motion to prevent a federal court in the United States from releasing his academic records to his principal opponent in the 2023 presidential election.

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The institution had claimed that a clerk was responsible for irregularities that characterised a certificate the school reprinted in Mr Tinubu’s name, according to court filings seen by The Gazette.

Amid the legal tussle in the U.S., Mr Abubakar on Sunday quizzed Mr Tinubu, asking him to reveal how he obtained a degree from Chicago University without attending primary and secondary school.

Mr Atiku’s post on X sparked widespread reactions seeing the “AskTinubu” trend of X microblogging app on Sunday as Nigerians discuss Mr Tinubu’s academic records.

Reacting to the development, Digital Communication aide to Ex President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad accused Obidients, a name for supporters of Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, of being responsible for the development on the institution’s Z handle.

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In an X on his verified handle, he wrote “Harassing a respected institution to the point where they lock up their Twitter/X account is counterproductive and harmful, it will never be an achievement. Peter Obi and his supporters should know that it is important to express opinions respectfully and engage in meaningful conversations rather than resorting to tactics that stifle discourse”.

Rebutting his post, another X user with the handle @PeterObiPikin said it was Nigerians demanding for answers.

“It’s not Peter Obi and his supporters. It’s Nigerians the true Nigerians. Not the greedy Nigerians that [feel] comfortable as long as their pockets [are] filled up they don’t care about the ravaging poverty in their region. Allah will judge you Bashir”, he posted.

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Pacesetter/Peoples Gazette