It’s a trend in the United States that every citizen in the country has an FBI file, but this is far from the truth. Although, activists, troublemakers, and those who are involved in illegal activities are more likely to have an FBI file than the average person.
When the US Justice Department has an adversarial encounter with someone, the FBI opens a file for that person. This implies that Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, might have a rich FBI file due to his involvement in Nigerian politics. Anyone in America can file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FBI, and the bureau will send that person’s files, provided the FBI does not redact some of the papers for security reasons.
ALSO READ: Joe Biden’s delay in congratulating Tinubu raises doubts 55 days after Nigeria’s general election
In 2016, media across the world obtained leaked documents from the UK’s most secretive intelligence agency, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). These documents showed that GCHQ was spying on African leaders, top people in business, and other highly connected and influential people. The GCHQ was taping their phones, reading their emails, and monitoring their activities to find their vulnerability.
This means that if they discover wrongdoing by these African leaders or their associates, they will exploit it to achieve their country’s goal. The fear of a leak of the content of the top pages of their files will make them sign away the destiny of their unborn generation.
Therefore, these intelligence agencies of the world love compromised African leaders at the helm of affairs. They make their jobs easier. For example, Bola Tinubu’s Guinean citizenship was exposed recently, which surprised many Nigerians. This information could be used against him, and the intelligence agencies can guess some of the other information they have on him.
For instance, the US Department of State has a record of the day Bola Tinubu first applied for a visa at the US embassy in Lagos in the 1970s. They have the exact name he used, the date of birth, the list of schools he claimed he attended, and his certificates. The FBI has a record of the places Bola Tinubu lived, the school he attended, and a copy of his first driver’s license.
ALSO READ: FBI arrests Air Force guardsman in connection with leaked Pentagon documents
They also know when he got into Chicago State University, what name he used, and what happened to the female Bola Tinubu, who was admitted to the same university when our president-elect claims he was admitted.
The FBI file is not something to be taken lightly. It is a detailed record of a person’s life, which can be used against them if necessary. It is essential to note that the FBI can release a person’s file to anyone who has been authorized by that person. Therefore, if Bola Tinubu signs an FOIA form authorizing the release of his FBI file to someone, the FBI can release it to any Nigerian in the United States.
The history of the world is littered with cases of countries with incriminating information about leaders of other countries blackmailing them into doing their bidding. People who have studied African post-colonial history say it is the primary reason for our undoing.
ALSO READ: Soyinka refutes WhatsApp post claiming he endorses Tinubu, Atiku, and Peter Obi
The more damaging information they have about a leader, the easier it is for them to get what they want from that leader. When African leaders vote against their self-interest at the UN, someone has been arm-twisted. When a trade deal detrimental to the well-being of Africans is signed and heralded, someone was scared of doing the right thing and having their dirty laundry let out for the world to see.
These intelligence agencies of the world love compromised African leaders at the helm of affairs because it makes their jobs easier. They can use the information they have on these leaders to manipulate them and extract favors.
Peoples Gazette
