INCREDIBLE AHEAD OF 2015 ELECTIONS: ARMYGATE SCANDAL!
‘Gen. Buhari’s WASC didn’t Pass Verification Process’
-Nigerian Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Olaleye
*Says: “ Buhari applied to join the military as a Form Six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina on October 18, 1961”
*Explains: “There is no available record to show Credential Verification process was followed in the 1960s”
*His words: “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”
*’WAEC keep Mum on Certified True Copy of Buhari’s Result’-INVESTIGATION
*“Even if Buhari wins, PDP would eventually file Court Process at the Appeal to remove him”-Kolawole Thompson, Political Science Undergrad, University of Texas
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TEXAS
DRAMA is daily unfolding in Nigeria’s political terrain as the controversy generated by the ‘educational certificates’ of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Presidential Candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) has further heat-up Nigeria’s polity. The latest revelation by Nigerian Army-an institution Buhari served for several years has brought more confusion and heated debate into the already tensed atmosphere and eventually taint the image of Mr. Integrity (a known nickname of Buhari when he toppled power as Military Head-of-State on December 1983).
Nigerian Army clears the air on Buhari
Without mincing words, Brig. General Olajide Olaleye, Director of Army Public Relations, at a press conference in Abuja, said neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Buhari’s WASC results is in his personal file.
Nevertheless, Olaleye said Buhari’s application was duly endorsed by the Principal of Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, who also wrote a report and recommended him as suitable for military commission.
Olaleye’s statement on the issue unedited:
“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 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 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.
“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. However, neither the original copy, Certified True Copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major General Muhammadu 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.”
‘WAEC keep Mum on Certified True Copy of Buhari’s Result’-INVESTIGATION
Naija Standard tried severally to get a Certified True Copy of Buhari’s result from West African Examination Council (WAEC), unfortunately there was no response either by electronic mail, text or phone call for them to either confirm or deny this educational scandal rocking their base.
“Even if Buhari wins, PDP would remove him from office”-Kolawole Thompson, Political Science Undergrad, University of Texas
For Kolawole Thompson, an Undergraduate of Political Science at the University of Texas, he echoed that the days of Buhari in office are numbered, revealing that if the retired Army General wins the election, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s ruling party will appeal his victory in Appellate Court and win. He said: “Even if Buhari wins, PDP would eventually file Court Process at the Appeal to remove him from office because he breached Nigerian Constitution for not having the requisite minimum education requirement to have contested Presidential Election in Nigeria.”
