Just Because We Forgot

CULTURE

0

Buhari failed all military exams he took in Nigeria and uses Psc, met for officers who were successful in exam

Buhari failed all military exams he took in Nigeria and uses Psc, met for officers who were successful in exam New York[RR]Abuja–All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate Mohammadu Buhari, 72, all Nigerian military exams he sat for, said former Minister Federal Capital Territory, FCT-Abuja, Nasir El-Rufai. Since Buhari cannot prove his WAEC certificate claim, he is […]

By Republic Reporters New York

2015/01/29 1:42 AM

Buhari failed all military exams he took in Nigeria and uses Psc, met for officers who were successful in exam

New York[RR]Abuja–All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate Mohammadu Buhari, 72, all Nigerian military exams he sat for, said former Minister Federal Capital Territory, FCT-Abuja, Nasir El-Rufai.

Since Buhari cannot prove his WAEC certificate claim, he is currently blaming everyone else but himself.

Daily Times, said, that 'THE academic credentials of former military ruler and presidential hopeful, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, were seized by the military junta of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida sometime in 1985.

Buhari also said, the the Nigerian Army has his certificate, but army came out and said, it doesn't have it, which he stated its side of the story following an affidavit sworn by General Buhari that all his academic credentials are with the Secretary, Military Board.

This statement came as the saga surrounding the academic qualification of the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammed Buhari (Rtd), continues.

According to the Nigerian Army, besides other qualifications obtained by the General while in service, it was not in possession of his West African School Certificate.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye, who said the army has been inundated with request for the General's credentials, added that it was only in possession of a letter from the Principal of the Provincial Secondary School, Kastina, recommending Buhari as fit for military commissioning in 1960.

He said that the Army also have in its possessions Nigerian Army Form 199A where the General indicated after commissioning that he obtained credits in four subjects and a pass in another. However, it is not in possession of a certificate to prove same.

Sequel to the release of the lists of aspirants seeking political offices by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and screening date for these aspirants, Journalist thronged the Headquarters of the Commission on Friday to get a fill of the aspirants profiles but unlike others, they could not find General Buhari's qualifications.

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 general elections has explained in an affidavit he deposed before an Abuja High Court that all his certificates were with the Secretary, Military Board.

All other presidential candidates, including President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had their credentials at the INEC Headquarters.

Mr. Buhari's affidavit was dated November 24, 2014 and was stamped and received by INEC on December 18, 2014.

Buhari, in the affidavit, said "I am the above-named person and deponent to this affidavit therein. All my academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/2015, are currently with the Secretary, Military Board, as of the time of presenting this affidavit.

"The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purposes."

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set January 16 – 18 for the formal screening of all eleven Presidential aspirants.

Read full text:

That was the submission on Wednesday of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political party fielding General Buhari for next month's presidential election.

According to the party, the credentials were carted away by soldiers who raided the home of Buhari, when the Babangida junta seized power from the APC candidate in a coup.

Buhari, who had staged a coup against the civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari on 31 December 1983, was also ousted by his military colleagues on 27 August 1985, led by Gen. Babangida.

"After the coup and the arrest of Gen. Buhari by the Babangida administration, military officers raided the home of Buhari, ransacked it and carted away many documents. Buhari's academic credentials were among the documents that were taken away," a senior official of the APC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin said on Wednesday.

Fashakin, who was the spokesman of Buhari's Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) before it merged with other parties to form the APC, made the disclosure during a live interview on Channels Television in Lagos.

Buhari's academic qualification has become an issue in the coming general election since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that the Army General had lodged with it an affidavit that his academic credentials were with military authorities.

Section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution prescribes minimum qualification for election into the office of the president.

It states: "A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if – "he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent."

The provision is silent on whether the "school certificate" should be primary school or secondary school."

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has consistently expressed fears that Buhari has neither.

Fashakin believes that Buhari will not be contravening the nation's laws even if fails to present his basic school leaving certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He outlined the primary and secondary schools attended by Buhari and drew attention to the several military trainings of the General.

Fashakin said that the Electoral Act simply requires that aspirants submit "documents" on their credentials, adding that the affidavit deposed to by Buhari that the certificates were with the military could satisfy the requirement of "document."

A top serving General at the Defence Headquarters, in an interview with the Daily Times on Wednesday, expressed doubts on Buhari's claim of credentials being with the military.

The General, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Daily Times: "The Army only keeps the Course Reports on officers and this remains confidential. In addition, the military takes custody only of photocopies of all other credentials submitted by officers. The originals of all credentials remain with the officers."

Credit: Daily Times, Vanguard, Leadership