The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Muhammadu
Buhari, its presidential candidate is qualified to contest
next month’s presidential election even if the army says it
is not in possession of his certificates.
It also warned that those seeking to destroy Buhari on the
basis of his certificates may end up destroying the
country’s military as well.
Speaking on Tuesday through its spokesman, Lai
Mohammed, the party alleged that the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and the Jonathan administration were playing a
dangerous game by trying to compromise the military in
order to satisfy political objectives.
It urged the military, as a symbol of national unity, to be
wary of those who might be seeking to use it to achieve
selfish and divisive ends.
The APC said the statement credited to Olajide Olaleye,
army spokesman, at a press conference in Abuja, that the
army was not in possession of Buhari’s certificates, was in
direct conflict with what he said on January 4, on the same
issue.
The party argued that in an interview with the Punch on
January 4, Olaleye had said: “Every serving and retired army
officer had at least a copy of his certificates kept with the
Nigeria army while the same serving and retired officer had
copies of those same certificates.”
APC further stated: “Is Brig-Gen Olaleye now saying that he
did not make that statement? If he did, what has happened
between then and now to make him to recant? It will be
interesting to know what has transpired between then and
now.
“But more worrisome is the statement credited to Brig-Gen
Olaleye that there was no evidence that the certificates of all
those who joined the army in the early 1960s were verified
by the selection board.
“Is he now saying that all those who were commissioned
into the officer cadres in the 1960s did not have their
certificates verified? Does this not confirm what we said
that in trying to destroy Buhari, the PDP and the Jonathan
administration will end up destroying the army as an
institution? Or is it only Buhari that was commissioned into
the army in the 1960s.”
It quoted Buhari as saying in an affidavit on November 24,
2014 that “All my academic qualifications documents as
filled in my presidential form, president APC/001/2015 are
currently with the secretary military board as at the time of
this affidavit”.
“Those who are behind the latest controversy should now
tell Nigerians what happened to Buhari’s certificates
between the time of his affidavit and now,” the party said.
“In any case, even if the army now says it does not have the
certificates of Buhari, he is still very qualified to run for the
country’s highest office, as stipulated by the constitution of
the federal republic of Nigeria.”
The party quoted Section 131 (d) of the constitution: “A
person shall be qualified for election to the office of
president if he has been educated up to at least School
Certificate level or its equivalent”.
It said the meaning and interpretation of school certificate
level or its equivalent can be found in the constitution under
part IV, section 318. In that section, a ‘school certificate or it
equivalent’ is defined quite succinctly thus:
(a) A secondary school certificate or its equivalent, 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.
“Olaleye had now confirmed that Buhari indeed applied to
join the army from form six, that the principal of the school
he attended even attested to his suitability, and that the
form he filled contained his secondary school certificate
results, there is no scintilla of doubt about his qualification
to run for president as stipulated by the constitution,” APC
said.
“However, we know that the PDP and the Jonathan
administration have constituted themselves into a court of
law and will like nothing more than the disqualification of
our candidate so they will face no challenge in next month’s
election. This is wishful thinking,” party said.
It said the PDP and the Jonathan administration should
“expend their energy on how to revive their floundering
campaign instead of seeking the disqualification of its
candidate.”
On the contradictions in the statements credited to the army
spokesman, it said: “It is true that our once globally-
respected military has now been made comatose by the
PDP-led federal government, but we believe things have not
reached the level where the same military will be engaging
in actions that amount to self destruction, just to satisfy
some political interests.
“We believe things have not reached a level where we, as a
nation, will now be giving the impression that a man who
rose to become a major-general in the Nigerian army does
not have requisite qualifications?
“What really is happening in our country if some politicians
have now decided to engage in an action that will amount to
dragging the military into politics, dividing an institution that
is a symbol of national unity, trivialising the service of those
who fought to keep Nigeria one and ridiculing the same
country it is supposed to be ruling?
“We have said it before and will like to repeat: Enough is
enough about this distraction orchestrated by the PDP and
the Jonathan administration whose electioneering campaign
for next month’s polls has suffered a train wreck.”

Source: http://www.thecable.ng/apc-buhari-quali
fied-run-without-certicifactes

Please try another line. APC this one no make sence.

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe...

Case closed.

Buhari till 2019 and then my Yoruba brother followed by another Malo.

SS and SE you are on a long thing.....

What's wrong with this guys They are handling this issue poorly, are they accepting the fact that GMB indeed does not have a certificate

Why are they allowing this certificate be an issue if indeed GMB has one Why is it so hard to get a certificate and show those asking to kill this buzz

It will be a shame if at the end of the day GMB/APC do not produce a certificate for their flag bearer as this will set a bad precedence...The stalling in producing a certificate is pointing to one thing which is the fact that GMB MAY not have a certificate...IMO

So the recommendation letter from the school principal, (who might even be Buhari's relative, somehow), was enough to enrol him in the Army and now as a president? WOW.

See as these people are making mockery of our education.

If Buhari is qualified to run for president, of what use is going to school then?

APC.....change indeed. And they claim to be educated.

The one thing I can deduce from Lai Mohammed's statement is that Buhari did not tender his certificate to enrol into the army (you can't give what you don't have)...

...But he (Lai) is begging Nigerians not to probe the matter too deep because it might expose the rot in the activities of the military and indite other officers who came in through back door and not merit.

APC the Chameleon Party, always CHANGING mouth!

oluvick:
So the recommendation letter from the school principal, (who might even be Buhari's relative, somehow), was enough to enrol him in the Army and now as a president? WOW.

See as these people are making mockery of our education.

If Buhari is qualified to run for president, of what use is going to school then?

APC.....change indeed. And they claim to be educated.

I see no reason why he would allow issues like this to drag this long...It defiles logic why you won't want to prove your critics wrong by showing them he indeed has a certificate...Am beginning think GMB/APC are stalling intentionally, hoping nigerians will let this saga go as usual...IMO

fitzmayowa:
What's wrong with this guys They are handling this issue poorly

As in eh! I am dumbfounded. Nigeria is on a long tin! Are these the best candidates we we are condemned to choose among? Jona is clueless and GMB is certificate-less

And I must say,APC is handling this issue very poorly!

Adegbodolu1:
Case closed.

Buhari till 2019 and then my Yoruba brother followed by another Malo.

SS and SE you are on a long thing.....

Who's dis one? Before u talk, try to rebooth ur brain properly. Common sense isn't dat common. U wouldn't have survived if Igbo's have not fought for ur freedom.

Onye Ofe-mmanù

The desperation is getting serious. Now you want to force the man on Nigerians because you foolishly did not do your verification checks well. APC is not serious.

Adegbodolu1:
Case closed.

Buhari till 2019 and then my Yoruba brother followed by another Malo.

SS and SE you are on a long thing.....

I'm sure you didn't even read the OP.

[size=18pt]I repeat[/size]

Adegbodolu1:
Case closed.

Buhari till 2019 and then my Yoruba brother followed by another Malo.

SS and SE you are on a long thing.....

Already our army had been both bastardized and destroyed. How can one rise t the rank of a General and simple sense could not tell him to keep, even if a photocopy of his certificates.

APC should not tell us that everything in Nigeria is propaganda.

Let them face the reality of their sad mistake.

alizenbohr:
The one thing I can deduce from Lai Mohammed's statement is that Buhari did not tender his certificate to enrol into the army (you can't give what you don't have)...

...But he (Lai) is begging Nigerians not to probe the matter too deep because it might expose the rot in the activities of the military and indite other officers who came in through back door and not merit.

APC the Chameleon Party, always CHANGING mouth!

Hmmm...

Lai Muhammed lying since birth!

Meanwhile, afefe ti fe, atiri furu idi adiye!

#teambuharishowyourschoolcert

Over qualified dey worry am sef! PDP no get case

Adegbodolu1:
Case closed.

Buhari till 2019 and then my Yoruba brother followed by another Malo.

SS and SE you are on a long thing.....

Good. Just make sure that while you are in power, activate the groundnut pyramid and cocoa farming because you no go see that plenty Oyel money wey dey make you scramble for presidency.

Congrats in advance.

We know that he is qualified, but the issue is that he lied on oath that he has WASC when he doesn't. So, he should be charge and sentenced in the court of law, this will in turn render him ineligible to contest.

The Nigerian army has been politicised. Are they saying Buhari has credits in his exams but does not have a certificate?

Certificate na paper jare! We are even talking about over 50 years ago. Anyway Buhari cannot be disqualified, bookmark this page.

If you think the devil is a liar let Lai Mohammed lie to you then you we realize that devil is a learner

oluvick:
So the recommendation letter from the school principal, (who might even be Buhari's relative, somehow), was enough to enrol him in the Army and now as a president? WOW.

See as these people are making mockery of our education.

If Buhari is qualified to run for president, of what use is going to school then?

APC.....change indeed. And they claim to be educated.

Sorry, no one is making mockery of our education but you and others who are unnecessarily fixated on this issue of certificate due to your poor comprehension and interpretation of a simple short sentence from our constitution.

Section 65 (2) says a person shall be qualified for election under subsection 1 of this section if (a) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent; and (b) he is a member of a political and is sponsored by the party.

Pls prove where the above provision explicitly required a candidate must obtain/possess let alone show/produce/submit his certificate or equivalent.

It should be obvious that the constitution only required for education to a certain level (school certificate or its equivalent) - key word here being LEVEL (not certificate).

Note, it doesn't even require for such person to have succeeded; otherwise it would have been more specific e.g. included such clauses as: successfully completed, passed the final exam, obtained or been awarded the certificate etc.

Therefore all this conjecture about GMB not being qualified is just hogwash, based on emotions rather than common sense.
Furthermore if PDP knew they have a valid case of disqualification against Buhari, they would since rushed to court as provided for by our electoral Act. - instead they rather prefer to keep this propaganda alive for maximum gain.

As long as this country thrives on nepotism and parochial sentiments, then a gloomy future awaits us. Its sad that a senile old man who ruled me as a young teenager in 1983, is still coming back with the unachieveable dream of trying to rule me again at 73yrs old, and its worse that he has no certificate to even cover up the whole shiit.

The constitution is clear on the minimum qualification required to run for the highest office in the land, if Buhari cannot produce his waec certificate or evidence that he wrote the exam, then he should go back to daura and play with his grandchildren whilst waiting for the supreme call from the gods.

"Speaking on Tuesday through its spokesman, Lai
Mohammed, the party alleged that the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and the Jonathan administration were playing a
dangerous game by trying to compromise the military in
order to satisfy political objectives.
It urged the military, as a symbol of national unity, to be
wary of those who might be seeking to use it to achieve
selfish and divisive ends."

Lai Lai Lai? How many times did i call u? This is self indicting on Buhari because it was he who fraudulently involved the military in civil matters to achieve a predetermined political goal.

ItsMeAboki:


Sorry, no one is making mockery of our education but you and others who are unnecessarily fixated on this issue of certificate due to your poor comprehension and interpretation of a simple short sentence from our constitution.

Section 65 (2) says a person shall be qualified for election under subsection 1 of this section if (a) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent; and (b) he is a member of a political and is sponsored by the party.

Pls prove where the above provision explicitly required a candidate must obtain/possess let alone show/produce/submit his certificate or equivalent.

It should be obvious that the constitution only required for education to a certain level (school certificate or its equivalent) - key word here being LEVEL (not certificate).

Note, it doesn't even require for such person to have succeeded; otherwise it would have been more specific e.g. included such clauses as: successfully completed, passed the final exam, obtained or been awarded the certificate etc.

Therefore all this conjecture about GMB not being qualified is just hogwash, based on emotions rather than common sense.
Furthermore if PDP knew they have a valid case of disqualification against Buhari, they would since rushed to court as provided for by our electoral Act. - instead they rather prefer to keep this propaganda alive for maximum gain.

Son, I have the nigerian constitution and all what u have just stated is not accurate, u need to go back and read the constitution properly so as not to pass the wrong info.

mobuch:


The constitution is clear on the minimum qualification required to run for the highest office in the land, if Buhari cannot produce his waec certificate or evidence that he wrote the exam, then he should go back to daura and play with his grandchildren whilst waiting for the supreme call from the gods.

Then you must go back to school and revise your comprehension; show me where the constitution required he must produce his certificate or evidence he wrote any exam.

The soldiers at the press briefing looked like a bunch of boy scouts. The guy did not look like he believes what he is saying... reminds me of Fela...zombie

It is the height of irresponsibility ,to drag the military into the fray.

mobuch:

As long as this country thrives on nepotism and parochial sentiments, then a gloomy future awaits us. Its sad that a senile old man who ruled me as a young teenager in 1983, is still coming back with the unachieveable dream of trying to rule me again at 73yrs old, and its worse that he has no certificate to even cover up the whole shiit.

The constitution is clear on the minimum qualification required to run for the highest office in the land, if Buhari cannot produce his waec certificate or evidence that he wrote the exam, then he should go back to daura and play with his grandchildren whilst waiting for the supreme call from the gods.

mobuch:


Son, I have the nigerian constitution and all what u have just stated is not accurate, u need to go back and read the constitution properly so as not to pass the wrong info.

Pls prove me wrong by quoting the relevant part of the constitution which contradicted my position - I am waiting, do not disappoint me, pls,

ItsMeAboki:


Then you must go back to school and revise your comprehension; show me the constitution required he must produce his certificate or evidence he wrote any exam.

My constitution which I purchased directly from unilag bookshop thru my lawyer friend clearly states that u need to have a minimum of secondary school certificate to run for the office of the president, if yours didn't state so, then am sure its a pirated copy u bought under ojuelegba bridge.

vh