FULL TEXT: The Nigerian Army has once again denied being in possession of the academic credentials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

This was disclosed today, January 20, by the Director, Army Public Relations, Olaleye Lajide during a press conference in Abuja.

Brig. Gen. Lajide had earlier stated that Buhari’s certificates were with the army and were intact.

However, an official statement has been released to declare the army’s final stance on the matter. It reads:

Gentlemen of the Press, I am pleased to welcome everyone back from the Christmas and the 2015 New Year festivities. On behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I wish you all a happy and more fulfilling 2015. Since our last media briefing on 31 December, 2014, some issues relating to the Nigerian Army have occurred and this briefing is holding specifically to address them.

I will begin with the Major General Muhammadu Buhari certificate controversy.

Gentlemen, let me state clearly that the Nigerian Army holds the retired senior officer in very high esteem and respect and would not be a 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.

Records available indicate that Major General M Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on 18 Oct 61. 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 NA 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 (WASC) in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and a pass in English Literature. Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General M 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 Mohammed Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army.

BREAKING NEWS!

The Nigerian Army has said it is not in possession of the original or photocopies of the credentials of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

It said at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday that it had a letter from the Principal of Buhari’s secondary school, dated 1961, recommending him for enlistment into the military school.

Details later…

Ahaoma, Kanu, News Reporter

What the Army just said is this: When Buhari enlisted, his Principal recommended him and in that case, he joined the Army with what is today called Awaiting Result. When he was supposed to fill another form to join the Officers cadre, he informed the Army that he got his West African School Certificate (WASC) with five credits and one pass BUT he never submitted that result to the Army and they don't have it in their file. In more plain words,if Muhammadu Buhari did not submit those certificates that he was supposed to submit, he may have committed perjury. I am just analysing oooooo. When people say that Goodluck Jonathan may have ordered the Army to do this, I will disagree. Because Buhari involved the Army when he said all his academic documents are with the military board. WHY WILL BUHARI NOT JUST SHOW HIS CERTIFICATE AND END THIS SUSPENSE?

Ahaoma Kanu, News Reporter

You cannot count 2 until you count 1

So if you do not have WASC/GCE, you cannot have BSC, let alone the equivalent of an MSC in the US War College Diploma

This is how they destroyed everywhere with mediocre appointments. His Fulani Principal gave a note and he was employed into the army with awaiting result. Even though he did not graduate, with Northern power he rose through the ranks to become a general, while southerners with PhD, MSc etc stay in the military 30 years and end up as Colonels.

APC should present another candidate or hand the election to PDP for free. We cannot afford to have a liar, perjurer and semi-illiterate as our president in 2015

But if he has waec results they will be with WAEC

If he wants copies of his results which he has lost then he should go to WAEC board

Why is Buhari getting Army involved in this? What is he hiding?

Hahaha! Wasc never get archives then?

PDP should take the campaign to students. They will understand that they cannot be led by an illiterate in this age and time. The almajiris will not understand because for them education is haram

Francis5:
FULL TEXT: The Nigerian Army has once again denied being in possession of the academic credentials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

This was disclosed today, January 20, by the Director, Army Public Relations, Olaleye Lajide during a press conference in Abuja.

Brig. Gen. Lajide had earlier stated that Buhari’s certificates were with the army and were intact.

However, an official statement has been released to declare the army’s final stance on the matter. It reads:

Gentlemen of the Press, I am pleased to welcome everyone back from the Christmas and the 2015 New Year festivities. On behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I wish you all a happy and more fulfilling 2015. Since our last media briefing on 31 December, 2014, some issues relating to the Nigerian Army have occurred and this briefing is holding specifically to address them.

I will begin with the Major General Muhammadu Buhari certificate controversy.

Gentlemen, let me state clearly that the Nigerian Army holds the retired senior officer in very high esteem and respect and would not be a 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.

Records available indicate that Major General M Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on 18 Oct 61. 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 NA 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 (WASC) in 1961 with credits in relevant subjects: English Language, Geography, History, Health Science, Hausa and a pass in English Literature. Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General M 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 Mohammed Buhari as it affects the Nigerian Army.

The bolded statement is unneccesary and malicious, how do they hope to possess the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) or the statement of result of any officer of the Nigerian army. It is obvious that only copies of certificates that should be with the army. The Army would have sighted the originals of all certificates presented before admission.

wirinet:


The bolded statement is unneccesary and malicious, how do they hope to possess the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) or the statement of result of any officer of the Nigerian army. It is obvious that only copies of certificates that should be with the army. The Army would have sighted the originals of all certificates presented before admission.

there is nothing malicious about the statement

The Army Spokesman could not have possibly comment on what was seen at the time because he was not one of those who enrolled Buhari in the Army. He can only comment on the contents of his records.

Buhari should approach WAEC and produce his certificate. Otherwise even if APC wins Buhari will not be President as he will be disqualified and the courts will establish this!

Buhari has been a fraudulent certified illiterate since 1961..

mikeansy:


there is nothing malicious about the statement

The Army Spokesman could not have possibly comment on what was seen at the time because he was not one of those who enrolled Buhari in the Army. He can only comment on the contents of his records.

Buhari should approach WAEC and produce his certificate. Otherwise even if APC wins Buhari will not be President as he will be disqualified and the courts will establish this!

The statement is malicious because no one was expecting the army records to contain Buhari's or any other officer's original cerfificates. He should have just stopped at " we have copies of his certificates", full stop. The "original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result " was highly unneccesary.

Disqualified on what Basis? Because he refuses to show you his certificate? Are you telling me that what you can comprehend from the statement of the army spokesman is that Buhari did not submit a WAEC certificate before admission into the army? Please let me know your comprehension ability.

This is Nigeria, it might have been removed. Why did they wait for so long to say this. Nigeria Army has been politicized

Joke apart,
what really happened to buhari's certificates?

Is it that he lost it??

did he forgot where it is?

Or he really didn't have any certificates at all?? I doubt the later, though.

ok, what about the NDA certificate or any other relevant certificates or courses he had underwent during his active military years?

Why is he putting his supporters in confusion?

His silent and that of his party is not also helping


GOD SAVE NIGERIA !!!

wirinet:


The statement is malicious because no one was expecting the army records to contain Buhari's or any other officer's original cerfificates. He should have just stopped at " we have copies of his certificates", full stop. The "original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result " was highly unneccesary.

Disqualified on what Basis? Because he refuses to show you his certificate? Are you telling me that what you can comprehend from the statement of the army spokesman is that Buhari did not submit a WAEC certificate before admission into the army? Please let me know your comprehension ability.

The man has said people are approaching the Army for clarification of this and clarify the army has done. If he stops at copies then more people will write the army on the assumption that they must have originals. The man is just making the point that they don't have any version of this certificate, whether original or photocopy.

The statement from the army is truly professional and clearly states the facts.

Don't also forget that the Army took the pains to confirm the letter from Buhari's former principal which they did not need to mention.

They could have left their statement at "we do not have Buhari certificates whether photocopy or original"!

Dlionsheart:
Joke apart,
what really happened to buhari's certificates?

Is it that he lost it??

did he forgot where it is?

Or he really didn't have any certificates at all?? I doubt the later, though.

ok, what about the NDA certificate or any other relevant certificates or courses he had underwent during his active military years?

Why is he putting his supporters in confusion?

His silent and that of his party is not also helping


GOD SAVE NIGERIA !!!

His lack of communication is exactly how he will deal with National Affairs

A competent and modern President should have arrested the situation, grant a press conference and put this debate to bed once and for all and also approach INEC for certified copy of his certificate!

He has been running for elections in the last 3 elections and the last 12 years.

how difiicult is it to re-obtain your waec results in 12 years

This is not funny!

I just hope this ends well. It's better to go to the polls and allow GMB get defeated than disqualify him now.

Majority of GMB supporters don't want to know whether their hero has certificates or not!

It's sai Buhari or nothing.

Francis5:
APC should present another candidate or hand the election to PDP for free. We cannot afford to have a liar, perjurer and semi-illiterate as our president in 2015

The fraud called Buhari is guilty of crimes far greater than any of those listed above. He directly and publicly instigated post-election violence that claimed the lives of many National Youth Corps members drafted to serve as election officials during the 2011 presidential polls during which Buhari suffered the most recent chapter in his litany of humiliating defeats.

Weeping General Buhari is a homicidal psychopath who has a LOT of innocent blood on his hands. Such an evil entity must be kept AWAY from political power for as long as he wastes precious oxygen and space on this earth.

sunnyshayne:
This is not funny!

I just hope this ends well. It's better to go to the polls and allow GMB get defeated than disqualify him now.

Majority of GMB supporters don't want to know whether their hero has certificates or not!

It's sai Buhari or nothing.

if apc wins the election gmb will still not be president if he has no waec

for all we know gej may effectively be running against osibanjo

mikeansy:


if apc wins the election gmb will still not be president if he has no waec

for all we know gej may effectively be running against osibanjo

My concern here is about peace. The bulk of Buhari's supporters do not and will not see it like that. 2011 post election violence is still fresh in our minds.

wirinet:


The statement is malicious because no one was expecting the army records to contain Buhari's or any other officer's original cerfificates. He should have just stopped at " we have copies of his certificates", full stop. The "original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result " was highly unneccesary.

Disqualified on what Basis? Because he refuses to show you his certificate? Are you telling me that what you can comprehend from the statement of the army spokesman is that Buhari did not submit a WAEC certificate before admission into the army? Please let me know your comprehension ability.

If he can't show the pple he want to rule his certificate

Let him show inec his certificate nt affidavit

He said his credentials is with army they have refute such claim
Let him goto waec office and get it to inec if we the citizen don't deserves it

sunnyshayne:


My concern here is about peace. The bulk of Buhari's supporters do not and will not see it like that. 2011 post election violence is still fresh in our minds.

Then we might as well forget about the election and hand Government to Buhari for fear of violence

Official!!!
WAEC to release Buhari's certificate 5th of February 2015.

mikeansy:


Then we might as well forget about the election and hand Government to Buhari for fear of violence

That will amount to worse anarchy! We live in a society where early warning signals are often ignored. Build up to the election can tell you where to expect violence but how prepared are our security agencies to counter this threat? Not to forget the current insurgency challenge.

The recent Abuja accord where all presidential aspirants assented to a peace accord must be built upon with sensible campaign and not this character assassination campaigns.

This is not the first time Buhari will stand for election even if he does not have the minimum requirement, is not the duty of INEC to do the needful? The way pdp supporters are going with this certificate issue is not civil. INEC should be allowed to do its job without coercion.

sunnyshayne:
This is not funny!

I just hope this ends well. It's better to go to the polls and allow GMB get defeated than disqualify him now.

Majority of GMB supporters don't want to know whether their hero has certificates or not!

It's sai Buhari or nothing.

What exactly is your point? Are you saying that Buhari is above the law and untouchable? Is he bigger than the country Nigeria? His blind supporters cannot do more than they have done already. Have they not made the country ungovernable already? He who goes to equity must come with clean hands! Buhari must face this issue squarely till it comes to a logical conclusion. His supporters my foot!!

sunnyshayne:


My concern here is about peace. The bulk of Buhari's supporters do not and will not see it like that. 2011 post election violence is still fresh in our minds.

2011 is gone! This is 2015 and we won't just fold our hands while some desperate politicians kill our innocent children. Watch out!

mikeansy:


The man has said people are approaching the Army for clarification of this and clarify the army has done. If he stops at copies then more people will write the army on the assumption that they must have originals. The man is just making the point that they don't have any version of this certificate, whether original or photocopy.

The statement from the army is truly professional and clearly states the facts.

Don't also forget that the Army took the pains to confirm the letter from Buhari's former principal which they did not need to mention.

They could have left their statement at "we do not have Buhari certificates whether photocopy or original"!

The problem with you TAN brigade is that you people cannot read and comprehend. The army spokesman did not clarify anything, the statement on Buhari's certificates did not make us wiser than we were before the press release.

Read this statement and tell me if it said anything new;
Neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General M Buhari's WASC result is in his personal file.
It did not tell us that a copy of Buhari's WAEC results was not in his personal file. An original copy or certified true copy of the results were not expected to be in his file. Only a photocopy should be there. The originals should only be sighted during the admission process.

Then this quote below is the most senseless statement i had ever heard

It is a practice in the NA 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.

This also does not convey any useful information. Did the army sight Buhari's original WAEC certificate or not/ If he does not know he should have just said so, instead of disgracing the whole Nigerian Army. He is implying that the Nigerian army of the 60's was incompetent. A standard army would court marshal this officer. Is he now saying that it was in the 70's that the Nigerin army started vetting the certificates of recruits? So all officers admitted into the Nigerian Army in the 60's had questionable qualifications?

frankyychiji:
What exactly is your point? Are you saying that Buhari is above the law and untouchable? Is he bigger than the country Nigeria? His blind supporters cannot do more than they have done already. Have they not made the country ungovernable already? He who goes to equity must come with clean hands! Buhari must face this issue squarely till it comes to a logical conclusion. His supporters my foot!!

Do you work with the security agencies? You must be living comfortably in the east or West to say this. Just yesterday baboons attacked president Goodlucks convoy in Katsina!

What the Army did is even a bridge of trust on a colleague (retired). They did not need to go into the admission and result details of one of their boss. They should have just say "we have the sertificates " or "we do not have the certificates ". It is like a banker revealing the account details of a client or a colleague without the consent of the account owner.

Then why was the army only fixated on the WAEC certificate, what about other certificates obtained by Buhari under the sponsorship of the army? Why did the army spokesman not give details of other courses and certificates he obtained around the world? Did the army not recognize those certificates?

We are no longer in d stone age, dis is d 21st century for God sake. How can a country of 160 million people be presided over by an illiterate? Meanwhile, we have phd holders, intelligent people that can move dis country forward. Buhari, pls give it up for fashola or any younger apc member and retire back to your village. After all ,how many of ur mates are still active in d civil service?

sunnyshayne:


Do you work with the security agencies? You must be living comfortably in the east or West to say this. Just yesterday baboons attacked president Goodlucks convoy in Katsina!

I give up on you Sunnyshane!

frankyychiji:
I give up on you Sunnyshane!

Where is your sense of argument in this matter? Where were you when hundreds were maimed and killed after the 2011 post election? Is Buhari not walking the road a free man untouchable! Let INEC be the one to disqualify him in its own wisdom without duress.