Prominent Yoruba leader, Comrade Akin Malaolu, has strongly criticized Nigeria’s past presidents and elder statesmen for their continued silence regarding the brewing controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s past records in the United States.

In a scathing statement released on Sunday, Malaolu described the quiet stance of leaders like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and General Abdulsalami Abubakar as "disturbing," warning that the integrity and international reputation of the Nigerian state are at stake.

The outcry comes on the heels of intensified legal and diplomatic pressure on the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release its archival records concerning President Tinubu. The push is heavily backed by Karl Von Batten, a Washington-based lobbyist acting on behalf of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Malaolu argued that because President Tinubu holds the highest office in the land, his background is a matter of public interest, stripping him of the right to absolute privacy on criminal allegations.

“The President of Nigeria is not an ordinary private citizen," Malaolu declared. "Questions arising from a documented criminal investigation by a foreign law-enforcement agency go directly to issues of transparency, integrity, and the international standing of the Nigerian state.”

Expressing disappointment in the country`s traditional moral compasses, the Yoruba leader questioned why outspoken figures have suddenly gone quiet. He specifically challenged regional elders, institutional pillars, and literary icons who historically intervened during national crises.

“Why is there so much graveyard silence from those who have traditionally presented themselves as the conscience of the nation?" Malaolu asked. "Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was President when Tinubu served as Governor of Lagos State. But this is not about Obasanjo alone."

He continued: "Where are Chief Emeka Anyaoku, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Professor Wole Soyinka, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the other respected Nigerians who have repeatedly spoken out when they believed that the country’s democracy, institutions, or reputation were at stake?"

Malaolu concluded with a stern warning to the nation`s elite, stating that the political stakes are too high for neutral ground. "The time for silence is over. The time to act is now,” he said.