He got WASC in 1961, says army

Don’t destroy military, APC warns PDP

LEGAL experts have advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to launch a legal battle over Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s certificates.

Gen. Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 14 election.

The PDP’s plan, The Nation learnt, is to go to court in a bid to stop Gen. Buhari on the ground that his certificates are not with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The army said yesterday that Gen. Buhari obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961. But, said the army, the original copies of his certificates could not be found in his file.

It was also learnt that apart from the court, INEC can also determine Gen. Buhari’s fate.

If in the opinion of INEC Gen. Buhari can contest, no one can stop the APC candidate, lawyers said.

The PDP leadership and some Presidency officials sought legal advice on how to get Gen. Buhari disqualified, a source told The Nation, pleading not to be named because of what he described as the “sensitivity” of the matter.

But they were shocked to learn that it was all a wild goose chase.

The legal advice made available to the party indicated that Gen. Buhari cannot be stopped because Section 318 of the 1999 says any candidate can contest for elective office with a minimum of school certificate or its equivalent.

The section also does not say a candidate must pass or fail the school certificate examination or its equivalent, which could be a primary school certificate or the ability to read or write in English.

Also, if a candidate has served in the public sector for up to 10 years, this could be the equivalent of a school certificate.

A highly-placed source said: “The legal advice sought by PDP has confirmed that even if the party goes to court, it cannot stop Buhari. The party is in a state of confusion because it has to face the electoral battle with APC.

The 1999 Constitution is explicit in its interpretation of Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution by Section 318.

Section 131 states: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if (a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; (b) he has attained the age of forty (40) years; (c )he is a member of a political party; and (d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

“In Section 318, School certificate or equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or

“(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for a minimum of 10 years; and

“(ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and

“(iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and

“(d) Any other qualification acceptable by INEC.”

Another source said the PDP has realized its folly because it did not seek legal opinion before raising false alarms that Gen. Buhari is unqualified to contest.

The source added: “The PDP leaders have realised that all their alarms over Gen. Buhari’s certificate amounted to nothing.

“Out of shame, they have decided to keep their findings under wraps.”

Another reliable source in PDP said: “We have been briefed that there is little we can do to stop Gen. Buhari.”

In Abuja, the Army on former Head of State Gen. Mohammadu Buhari’s academic records, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate obtained the West African School certificate (WASC) in 1961.

The Army however added that the original copy, Certified True Copy, or statement of Buhari’s WASC result could not be found in his file.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye who who addressed a press conference at the Army Headquarters said:

“Records available indicate that Major General Muhammadu Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961.

“His application was duly endorsed by the principal of the school, who also wrote a report on him and recommended him to be suitable for military commission. It is a practice in the Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the Service, the Selection Board verifies the original copies of credentials that are presented.

“However, there is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s. Nevertheless, the entry made on the NA Form 199A at the point of documentation after commission as an officer indicated that the former Head of State obtained the West African School Certificate in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects.”

He listed the subjects to include: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and English Literature.

“Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General Buhari’s WASC result is in his personal file.

“I hope this explanation will put to rest the raging controversy surrounding the secondary school credentials of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army”.

The Army spokesman said the military holds Gen. Buhari in high esteem and would not be party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office.

“Suffice to state that Major General Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming the Head of State of our dear country in December 1983.

“The media hype on retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s credentials as well as the numerous requests made by individuals and corporate bodies to the Nigerian Army on this issue have necessitated that we provide the facts as contained in the retired senior officer’s service record,” Gen. Laleye stated.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/pdp-lawyers-party-cant-stop-buhari-court/

That's why they have been afraid to go to court. The most they can do is to continue the mudslinging and the backfiring character assassination. Desperate Mofoz.

That's the more reason they resorted to mudslinging and compromising the army.

It's game over for PDP whether they like it or not.

“In Section 318, School certificate or equivalent means (a) a Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, or Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or

“(c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) for a minimum of 10 years; and

“(ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and

“(iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English Language to the satisfaction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and

“(d) Any other qualification acceptable by INEC.”

PassingShot:
That's the more reason they resorted to mudslinging and compromising the army.

excuses excuses

blame jonathan next

Kia APC can lie O which PDP lawyer? Buhari never finished school, if he had, he would have said so. Letter from principal is never an equivalent. His father could have walked into the Principal's office without Buhari being a student. The elections are over. More so we don't want an idol as President, want a human being that is loved or hated moderately not one set of people dying for you and others having a deep resentment for you.

All the way we carry our bag to come hustle for lagos oh

rozayx5:


excuses excuses

blame jonathan next

Face issues and stop hyperventilating!

PassingShot:


Face issues and stop hyperventilating!

blaming the army for his being an illiterate shows buhari is a scammer
enjoy your change in daura

rozayx5:


blaming the army for his being an illiterate shows buhari is a scammer
enjoy your change in daura

Majority of Nigerians prefer an "illiterate" Buhari to the clueless "how much did Nwobodo stole?" "educated PhD holder"

Buhari, where is ur certificate GEJ till 2019!!!

Id.oits. most of those tanoids screaming "certificate" are indeed id.iots!

I wish the case had gone to court, it would have been thrown out at the first hearing.!

*

olaboy001:
Do you guys still insist on seeing the certificate?

Let him present anything even the so called "equivalent"!

tosin2013:
Id.oits. most of those tanoids screaming "certificate" are indeed id.iots!

I wish the case had gone to court, it would have been thrown out at the first hearing.!

You wey no get certificate are you not worse? !

temitemi1:
Buhari, where is ur certificate GEJ till 2019!!!

Nigerians have moved past this and it's only on Nairaland and few other social media people like you still shout.

Did you check how Reno Omokri was spanked yesterday on twitter?

kay1one:


Let him present anything even the so called "equivalent"!

Even if he show the certificate, you guys will still ask for something else again.

olaboy001:

Even if he show the certificate, you guys will still ask for something else again.

Which kind of world of impunity do you live in? If you apply for a job and are asked to show your credentials will you argue? !

temitemi1:
Buhari, where is ur certificate GEJ till 2019!!!

even your paymasters have realised that they can do nothing about it and you are still here ranting

olaboy001:

Do you know how many people fire/water have destroyed their certificate? Why did you think there is affidavit?

That is supported with a letter from the awarding body!

PassingShot:


Nigerians prefer an "illiterate" Buhari to the clueless "how much did Nwobodo stole?" "educated PhD holder"

it's unfortunate we are not in a jungle. SSCE or nathin

It simply tells you how flawed the Nigerian constitution is. If what they are trying to tell us,is that with a mere ability to read and write,you can contest for the office of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria,it tells you how low we have sunk as a nation. This alone,rubbishes the hardwork that has been put into work by most well educated citizens who have burnt candle at midnight,and have taken the pain to cope with the stressful educational system you have in Nigeria. As it is,it means we can't blame students in secondary and tertiary institutions today,who aren't reading or taking their book work serious. So long as they can read and write,they can become the president tomorrow. How comfortable are we with this kind of arrangement? If previous military leaders were well educated,I'm sure Nigeria would have been better than it is today cos they probably would have brought their educational experience to bare,while leading the nation. You can't compare the decisions an educated man will make,to one who just stopped at primary school. The Nigerian constitution handed over to us by the military needs overhauling. We like to compare ourselves with America or UK but I doubt if these countries would ever present an uneducated candidate during their presidential elections.

kay1one:


That is supported with a letter from the awarding body!

You people sha!

KwoiZabo:
it's unfortunate we are not in a jungle. SSCE or nathin

Says one kwoizabo unknown to the person sitting/standing next to him.

Which PDP lawyers?..the Nation can lie eehh. The case here is that he lied in his affidavit that the qualification he filled in his form is with the military board whereas the military has come out to say they are not with it. The court should compel him to provide the certificate which is WASC or ..You know na

Even if Buhari presents a textbook as his certificate,I must vote for him.
PDP rats and cockroaches should accept they are chasing shadows as they cannot stop the General from contesting.

our constitution is really funny....whether u fail or pass ur SSCE u can still contest

PassingShot:


Nigerians prefer an "illiterate" Buhari to the clueless "how much did Nwobodo stole?" "educated PhD holder"

keep quiet , who are you to speak on behalf on Nigerians? speak for our sorry, illiterate self

look at USA look at russia? have you seen their leaders profiles?
do you think this is 1983 when he was shooting gun up and down while our mates in singapore were developing big time?
do you think you can get away with certificate scandals in advanced countries? that alone would bury your political career
what does Buhari know about economics? common Oil market he does not understand
Nigeria is bigger than him, if the system was not corrupt, he would have been thankful to be a Sargent in the army

an illiterate will rule you and your family not Nigeria at large, God forbid satan

GMB TILL ANOTHER CREDIBLE CANDIDATE

I just wish PDP can go to court so that this baseless accusation can die down.




Sai Buhari anytime anyday anywhere

rozayx5:


[s]keep quiet , who are you to speak on behalf on Nigerians? speak for our sorry, illiterate self

look at USA look at russia? have you seen their leaders profiles?
do you think this is 1983 when he was shooting gun up and down while our mates in singapore were developing big time?
do you think you can get away with certificate scandals in advanced countries? that alone would bury your political career
what does Buhari know about economics? common Oil market he does not understand
Nigeria is bigger than him, if the system was not corrupt, he would have been thankful to be a Sargent in the army

an illiterate will rule you and your family not Nigeria at large, God forbid satan [/s]

Another Fayose in the making. Watch Out!