₦airaland Forum

lalasticlala

President Muhammadu Buhari has told Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that he is far more educationally qualified to vie for the office he is occupying.

Messrs Buhari and Abubakar are the major contestants in the concluded presidential race that took place on February 23.

While Mr Buhari sought re-election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the former vice president popularly known as Atiku was his major challenger from the PDP.

The president trounced the former number two citizen with over 4 million votes to actualize his second term ambition.

Atiku has gone to the presidential election tribunal to challenge the outcome of the exercise. He is also praying to be declared the winner on the basis that he is educationally qualified for the position than the president.

Responding, Buhari through his legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said he is academically qualified than the PDP candidate, challenging Atiku to prove him otherwise by tendering all his academic credentials before the tribunal.

“The respondent (Buhari) avers that he is far more qualified, both constitutionally and educationally, to contest and occupy the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria than the 1st petitioner; and that in terms of educational qualifications, training and courses attended, both within and outside Nigeria, he is head and shoulder above the 1st petitioner in terms of acquisition of knowledge, certificates, laurels, medals and experience,” the response filed by Mr Olanipekun read.

“Respondent states further that it is the 1st petitioner who is not qualified to contest the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and challenges the educational credentials and certificates of the 1st petitioner.

“The 1st petitioner is hereby given notice to produce and tender his educational certificates, indicating the schools attended by him, with dates,” the reply read.

The President who listed the schools he attended also denied providing false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Elementary School Daura and Maid’adua – 1948 to 1952;

“Middle School, Katsina – 1953 to 1956;

“Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Daura Government College, Katsina) – 1956 to 1961.”

“He (Buhari) did not, at any time, provide any false information in the Form CF001 submitted to the 1st respondent, either in 2014 or 2018.”

While denying that TraderMoni, is vote-buying, Buhari asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition, saying that it contained more of pre-election issues, which the Court of Appeal, sitting as a tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/im-academically-qualified-than-you-buhari-tells-atiku/

For saying one does not need a West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate to man the seat of leadership in the country, Festus Keyamo, the director-general of communications of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization, has come under attack by some Nigerians.

Mr Keyamo had at the weekend opined that his pricipal does not need the afro-mentioned academic credential as a qualification to be president because he has already served as a public servant for a number of years.

Mr Buhari, a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army and a former Petroleum Minister, faced a certificate controversy during the 2015 general election when he sought to be democratically elected president.

At the time, he claimed the military was in possession of his certificate. After winning the election and indicated interest to go for a second term, the issue was brought to the fore again, this time, the educational body presented an attestation certificate to him but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its supporters are not letting the sleeping dog lie.

The issue is one of the points Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the opposition, has against Buhari, who trounced him with about 4 million votes, at the presidential election tribunal.

Banking on the claim of Keyamo that anyone can man the seat of leadership without possessing the academic document, the critics questioned why Senator Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the PDP during the Osun State gubernatorial election, was dragged to court over his academic credentials when he is a public servant.

The lawmaker had accused the APC of forming alliance with the Nigeria Police, which charged him for the offence, to stop him from re-claiming his mandate.

Mr Adeleke was said to have presented a fake academic documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he was chosen as the governorship candidate of the party, he is still in court to defend himself.

Differentiating between the two scenarios, Keyamo said that of his principal is a lost certificate for which an attestation has been issued while that of Adeleke is adjudged to have been forged.

“By the definition of “School Certificate or its equivalent” in section 318 of the 1999 const. u don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office you will be disqualified,” the spokesman said in a tweet on Monday.

“Forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity. WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed. In #OsunCaseScenario WAEC has denied the authenticity. See d difference?” he added.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/keyamo-pinpoints-difference-between-buhari-and-adeleke-certificate-scandals/

Festus Keyamo, the director-general of communications for President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization, has stated how one can become president of the country without a West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.

Mr Keyamo, while featuring on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television at the weekend said anyone wishing to become president should first serve as a public servant for a reasonable number of years.

The programme also had Segun Sowunmi, the spokesman of Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in attendance.

The duo were speaking on the eligibility of messrs Abubakar and Buhari to contest the presidential election.

While the former vice president in his petition to the presidential election tribunal claimed the president is not qualified for the position having failed to submit his WAEC certificate, Mr Buhari through his party argued that Abubakar was not qualified because he is not a Nigerian.

Although he did not specify the duration expected from whoever is eyeing the exalted office, the presidential spokesman said after the service the person could become president without his or her WAEC certificate.

“There are other levels of qualifications to run for the office of President. In fact, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become President of Nigeria,” Mr Keyamo said.

The spokesman who stated that no one had the power to question the educational body, also quoted a section of the Nigerian Constitution to back up his claim.

“Yes. Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines “School Certificate or its equivalent” to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. No WAEC certificate is needed,” he said in a tweet on Sunday.

Defending his pricipal, Mr Sowunmi stated that the former number two citizen who hails from Adamawa State is a Nigerian because the territory belongs to the country.

“Atiku is a Nigerian; he’s the Waziri of Adamawa. He is former vice president, former governorship candidate and I think that every territory of Nigeria is a Nigerian territory,” he said.

Read more: https://politicstimesng.com/keyamo-how-to-become-president-without-waec-certificate/

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has explained why it picked Ahmed Lawan, the current leader of the 8th Senate, as its candidate for Senate Presidency in the 9th Senate.

Mr Lawan was the preferred candidate of the ruling party when the formation of the 8th Senate was due in 2015. But the dream did not come true because another lawmaker, Bukola Saraki, who belonged to the party at the time emerged winner.

The emergence of Mr Saraki was against the wish of the APC with several attempts to oust the top lawmaker thwarted. He was elected Senate President due to an alliance he formed with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to carry them along.

The spokesperson of the ruling party, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the APC settled for Lawan because just like Saraki, the lawmaker is able to carry his colleagues along.

“It is important to note that one of the key considerations for adopting him as the party’s candidate for the Senate Presidency is his ability to carry everyone along,” Mr Issa-Onilu said.

“On top of that, the party has confidence in him not to compromise the progressive ideology of APC. So clearly, Senator Ahmed Lawan is capable of conducting his negotiations within the prism of APC’s objectives,” he added.

Read more: https://politicstimesng.com/why-we-picked-lawan-for-senate-presidency-apc/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the results being paraded by Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fake.

INEC stated this while responding to the petition of Mr Abubakar and his party who are challenging the outcome of the February 23 exercise.



The legal team of the former vice president and the PDP had dragged the commission, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) among others to the presidential election tribunal, presenting electronic sheets that purportedly contained the genuine results of the presidential election.

A website which published the results claimed to have gotten them from the server of the electoral body.

The team told the tribunal that their clients, according to the electronic result sheets, won the election with over six million votes but the electoral body suppressed and manipulated the results to favour incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari who was declared winner on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Read more: https://politicstimesng.com/presidential-poll-atiku-parading-fake-results-inec-tells-tribunal/

Banking on the claim of a group you proscribed?

That means Kanu must be saying the truth about Buhari being an imposter.

https://www.nairaland.com/5130946/like-nnamdi-kanu-apc-tells#down

This party is so dumped that they are now taking clue from a group they proscribed.

That means Kanu must be saying the truth about Buhari being an imposter from Sudan.

Just like the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu said, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has told the presidential election tribunal that Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not a Nigerian.

The APC made the claim, which Mr Kanu made public prior to this year’s general election, while responding to the petition of Mr Abubakar and his party wherein they challenged the election that produced President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner.

The IPOB leader had claimed in one of his broadcast earlier in the year that the PDP candidate is not a Nigerian, he said the former vice president is from Cameroon.

Mr Buhari in winning the election with about 4 million votes has actualized his second term ambition expected to begin in May.

While responding to the petition by the opposition parties, the APC stated that by mere hailing from Cameroon, Atiku as he is popularly known is not qualified to have contested the election.

ALSO READ:
Zamfara Insecurity: Traditional Rulers React To Accusation, Dare FG



The ruling party asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lack of merit arguing that the over 11 million votes recorded in favour of Atiku and the PDP should be voided and considered a waste by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The response of the party filed by its lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) noted that the former vice president was born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa, in Northern Cameroon and is, therefore, a citizen of Cameroon and not a Nigerian by birth.

The APC claimed that prior to 1919, Cameroon was being administered by Germany and that following the defeat of Germany in World War 1, which end in 1918, Cameroon became part of a League of Nations mandate territory which consisted of French Cameroon and British Cameroon in 1919.

It further argued that in 1961, a plebiscite was held in British Cameroon to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroon or align with Nigeria.

According to the party, while northern Cameroon preferred a union with Nigeria, southern Cameroon chose alignment with the mother country and that it was as a result of the plebiscite that northern Cameroon, which included Adamawa, became a part of Nigeria.

ALSO READ:
Losing Election Not End Of The World, Lai Mohammed Consoles Atiku

It therefore, said that contrary to the assertion of Atiku in his petition, he (Abubakar) had no right to be voted for as a candidate in the election to the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on February 23, 2019.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/like-nnamdi-kanu-apc-tells-tribunal-that-atiku-is-not-a-nigerian/

Traditional rulers in Zamfara State has reacted to the accusation made against them by the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Buhari whose administration is largely known for shifting blames rather than take responsibilities, accused the traditional rulers of aiding armed bandits who have made the state insecure in recent times.

Dan Ali, Defence Minister, who made the allegation on Wednesday said the unnamed monarchs alongside other unpatriotic persons were “helping the bandits with intelligence to perpetuate their nefarious actions or to compromise military operations.”

Responding, the Zamfara State Council of Traditional Rulers, after its meeting in Gusau, the State Capital on Thursday, said it was unfortunate that the security agencies were looking for who to blame rather than taking steps to quell the crisis in the state.

In a press conference, the spokesperson of the group and the Emir of Bungudu, Hassan Attahiru, dared the Defense Minister to name those he said were aiding the bandits.

“Failure to do this will make his statement false and an attempt to tarnish the image of the traditional rulers and thereby making them scapegoats for the inability of the military and other security forces to end the scourge,” Mr Attahiru was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to have said.

“The traditional rulers have always cooperated with government and security agencies in providing information on location, routes and names of persons engaged in such criminal activities. Unfortunately, the military and other security agencies have failed to be on top of the situation.

“We will not shield anyone and we will want any suspect however highly placed to be arrested and prosecuted,” the monarch said and accused the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) of killing innocent civilians in the airstrikes being carried out in the state.

“The Council noted that airstrikes undertaken by the military do not hit the main camps of the bandits.

“Reports from Mutu in Gusau and Tsafe Local government areas, Tangaram in Anka local government and Dumburum in Zurmi local area among others are that the areas shelled were not the actual hideouts of the bandits and the victims were innocent civilians.

“If the main camps of the bandits are taken over and security personnel stationed there for a considerable period of time. This will deprive the bandits territory, mobility and supply routes, thus securing all surrounding areas,” the group said.

NAF DENIES KILLING INNOCENT CIVILIANS

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has denied the allegation made against it by the traditional rulers.

“The NAF target selection process for air operations is particularly rigorous and methodical in order to ensure proper target identification and thereby prevent strikes on wrong locations,” a statement from NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Ibikunle Daramola, read.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the public is to please note that the locations attacked from 8 to 11 April 2019 were selected based on human intelligence (HUMINT) reports obtained from security agencies and other government sources, traditional and community leaders as well as reliable, vetted informants.

“These were all further confirmed by days of detailed day and night Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to ensure proper targeting for the avoidance of collateral damage.

“To further ensure this, as standard practice, NAF attack aircraft on air interdiction missions are accompanied by ISR platforms that guide them to designated targets.

“Rather than making such spurious and unsubstantiated allegations, NAF requests that anyone with evidence to the effect that innocent civilians were targeted by the NAF air strikes should produce such evidence,” the statement read.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/zamfara-insecurity-traditional-rulers-react-dare-fg/

lalasticlala

Lai Mohammed, Information Minister, has told Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not to see his lost at the poll as the end of the world.

Mr Abubakar, a former vice president popularly known as Atiku lost his long-desired ambition of clinching the highest office in the land to President Muhammadu Buhari who trounced the PDP candidate to actualize his second term in office.

Mr Buhari who ran the race on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is expected to commence his second term in May.

Since he lost the February 23 election, Atiku has been exploring all avenues at his disposal to unseat the president.

Although he has gone to the election tribunal, praying to be declared winner of the presidential race, he is recently rumored to have employed the services of a lobbyists who has been negotiating to have the western world recognise him as winner of the election.

Read more: https://politicstimesng.com/losing-election-not-end-of-the-world-lai-mohammed-consoles-atiku/

Lalasticlala

Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice who doubles as the attorney general of the federation, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is abusing the freedom of speech by accusing him of interfering in the outcome of Rivers State governorship election.

Mr Malami, a cabinet member of the present administration which is fond of accusing its predecessor for its incompetence, stated this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The PDP had accused the attorney general alongside Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, of plotting to cause a constitutional crisis in the state due to the outcome of the governorship election in which Nyesom Wike, was re-elected for a second term in office.

The party through its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiya on Sunday, said it has been informed of how desperate the All Progressive Congress (APC) figures and their agents have been mounting pressure on the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed, to reverse the February 12, 2019 final judgment of the Supreme Court.



The Apex court had in its verdict on the said day, upheld the verdict of the trial court that excluded the APC from participating in the National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly Elections in Rivers State, having nullified the party’s flawed primaries in the state.

Reacting to the allegation, Malami said the claim by the PDP will remain an accusation until proven otherwise through the court.

He said the accusation against him is an abuse of freedom of speech which is enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

“Regarding what was leveled against me by PDP, I think it remains an accusation. It has to remain so until proven through a judicial process,” Malami said.

“But for me I think it is freedom of speech that has been taken too far,” he added.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/rivers-election-pdp-abusing-freedom-of-speech-by-accusing-me-says-malami/

lalasticlala

Rochas Okorocha, the outgoing governor of Imo State has told the Igbos to bury the long-desired ambition of producing the country’s next president in 2023.

Mr Okorocha, a founding member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) stated this on Tuesday while addressing reporters at the Government House in Owerri, before leaving the state to the nation’s capital, Abuja.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, the Igbo tribe of the South-East region has not produced a son who has manned the exalted office in the country.

The quest to produce one during the next general election was what the APC promised the zone should they vote massively for its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, who sought a second term in office.

Like they did in 2015, the people of the area who refused to queue behind the president alternatively voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Read more: https://politicstimesng.com/forget-about-producing-president-2023-okorocha-tells-igbos/

lalasticlala

While some Nigerians have resorted to praying for the betterment of the country, a legal practitioner has stated why he will not join the train in that direction.

Some Nigerians mostly the Christians have adopted the culture of going spiritual by praying for the country and its leaders at their various religious gathering.

For instance, the Roman Catholic Church has a special prayer it offers for the country – Prayer For Nigeria In Distress – at every mass celebrations across its parishes and stations nationwide.

For Inibehe Effiong, a lawyer based in Nigeria’s commercial capital, the problem of the country is not spiritual hence no need offering prayers on its behalf.

Mr Effiong, a Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) member, said the difficulties being faced in the country today is due to resolve of Nigerians to continually vote in inept leaders on the basis of tribe and religion.

“After voting incompetent leaders, Nigerians resort to calling on God & Allah for food, jobs, education, security & shelter,” the lawyer said at the weekend.

“We can’t have it both ways. The problems of Nig are not spiritual. It is leadership and followership. We will continue to suffer until we do what is right.

“I can’t pray for Nigeria/Nigerian leaders. Nigerian problems are not spiritual. Prayers/fasting will not give us good governance. With all the prominent Christian/Islamic leaders that we have in this country, nothing has changed. Churches/Mosques everywhere but no development,” Effiong added.

The lawyer who expressed regrets for voting President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 election, switched his support to Omoyele Sowore, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) during the 2019 presidential race.

Like former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the legal practitioner is also accusing the president of incompetence.

Like others, Mr Sowore lost the election to Mr Buhari who sought a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/why-i-cant-pray-for-nigeria-and-its-leaders-lawyer/

https://i2.wp.com/politicstimesng.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Inibehe-Effiong.jpg?zoom=2&resize=330%2C202&ssl=1

Lol

lalasticlala

The presidency has said those ridiculing the people of Zamfara State over the spike of killings in the area are actually shaming Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded general elections.

The state prior to the 2019 general elections had witnessed incessant increase in criminal activities often blamed on bandits in the area.

Abdulaziz Yari, the state governor who had promised to resign if that will curtial the situation but yet to do so has been described as the most useless governor nationwide.

A veteran journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, who gave the description on Saturday in Abuja during a protest pleaded for the intervention of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ms Ahmed and the people of the state has been a subject of ridicule, by perceived supporters of the opposition including those from the PDP, for re-electing the president despite the security condition situations in the state.

While reacting, the director of strategic communications for President Muhammadu Buhari campaign organisation, Festus Keyamo, said those mocking residents of the state are actually shaming Mr Abubakar.

Mr Keyamo said this is because the former vice president has been adjudged by the people of the state as not fit to pilot the affairs of the nation.

“Those who’re deriding the pple of Zamfara for voting PMB, despite security challenges, are not really shaming them; they’re rather shaming their own Presidential candidate who, in spite of these challenges, was never considered a trustworthy alternative to PMB by the Zamfara pple,” the presidential spokesman said on Monday through his Twitter handle.

Meanwhile, in reaction to the call made by the protesters over the security situation in the area, the federal government has suspended mining in the state.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/pdp-supporters-mocking-kadaria-ahmed-over-killing-shaming-atiku-buhari/

lalasticlala

Nigeria my country.

Kadaria Ahmed, the veteran journalist who led a protest on Saturday in Abuja over the spike in killings at her native Zamfara State, has revealed the reason why she fulminated.

Ms. Ahmed during the demonstration described Abdulaziz Yari, who pilots the affairs of the state, as the most useless governor nationwide.

She also pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in curtailing the situation.

After the protest, a Twitter user, Ladidi Ibrahim, shared a video of the demonstration alleging the journalist embarked on the protest due to an alleged brother of her that has been kidnapped.

The trending clip showed a supposed sister to Ahmed lamenting and lambasting Mr Buhari. The lamenter said her brother has been abducted and taken into captivity by bandits who are demanding a N200 million ransom.

Responding through her verified handle at the micro-blogging site, Ahmed described the report that her brother was abducted as fake news, hinting that it was not her brother that was kidnapped but a close family friend hence her decision to condemn the rise in crime.

“Actually all my brothers are at home. Stop spreading fake news,” the journalist told the purveyor, adding that, “…A close family friend is and out of what we call kara in Hausa we all call him brother…”

When POLITICS TIMES placed calls to her known telephone numbers seeking clarifications Sunday evening, they were either switched off or not reachable as at press time.

The journalist who moderated the town hall meetings for this year’s presidential candidate has been criticized by Nigerians for keeping silence when same situation occurred in other states of the federation only to react because her family friend suffered same fate.

Source: https://politicstimesng.com/zamfara-killings-a-family-friend-kidnapped-made-me-protest-kadaria-ahmed-says/

jonnyBee:
You should be spanked cos you don't leave there and don't know anything about that state. Private sector economy virtually collapse under him. He careless about the public except him and his family.

This you said this to Borno gov when Jonathan held sway?

All jonathanian oppressors are now living in fear.

Since GEJ was clueless, why complain now that you've seen who's clueful?

Barely a month after the conclusion of the 2019 general election, the battle on who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari has began.

Mr Buhari who emerged winner of this year’s presidential race is expected to begin his second term on May 29. The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate trounced Atiku Abubakar, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with over 4million votes to actualize his second term political ambition.

Prior to the election, allies of the president in a confusing manner promised two geo-political zones that should they re-elect their principal, he was going to handle over to them after exhausting his tenure which winds down in 2023.

The APC is expected to zone its presidential ticket to the South, but some APC chieftains from the North are of the opinion that the region did not undertake an agreement to cede power to the South.

The South East and the South West are those to be favoured should the ruling party decides to zone its ticket to the South.

Read more: https://politicstimesng.com/see-first-igbo-apc-chieftain-who-has-declared-to-contest-2023-presidency/