In a recent development, former Guinea President, Alpha Conde and Guinea’s ambassador to South Africa, Mamady Diop, have spoken on the issue of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Tinubu’s dual citizenship and his ties to Guinea.
Tinubu was reported to have a second passport from a West African nation, which was later discovered to be Guinea. He was also reported to have ties to the country, especially through his involvement in the construction of a university in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea.
In an interview with the African Independent Television (AIT), Conde stated that dual citizenship was not a problem, as it was allowed in many countries, including Guinea. He also pointed out that Tinubu had played a significant role in the development of the university in Conakry, which was named after him.
According to Conde, “Bola Tinubu is a friend of Guinea. He played a key role in the construction of a university in Guinea. We have a good relationship with him, and we are happy to have him as a friend of our country.”
Similarly, Guinea’s ambassador to South Africa, Mamady Diop, confirmed that Tinubu had been awarded honorary citizenship of Guinea for his contributions to the country’s development. He stated that Tinubu’s involvement in the construction of the university in Conakry was part of his efforts to promote education and human development in Africa.
Furthermore, Diop dismissed the issue of Tinubu’s dual citizenship, stating that it was not a problem in Guinea as the country recognized dual citizenship and had many citizens holding passports from other countries.
In the face of the controversies surrounding Tinubu’s alleged ties to Guinea, the former Lagos State governor had earlier denied having a second passport or any close ties to the West African nation. He dismissed the claims as a smear campaign against him by his political opponents.
However, with the recent comments by Conde and Diop, it appears that Tinubu’s ties to Guinea may have been more significant than initially perceived. It is yet to be seen what impact this would have on Tinubu’s political ambitions, particularly his rumored presidential bid in 2023.
In conclusion, the comments by the former Guinea President and ambassador to South Africa have shed more light on Tinubu’s dual citizenship and his ties to Guinea. While dual citizenship is not illegal or uncommon, it remains to be seen how this would impact Tinubu’s political career in Nigeria.
