Former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has predicted that the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari will be the next Nigerian President which is why those who are afraid of him are creating so many obstacles on his way, Saying “a general is always a general.
Obasanjo, who was reacting to the controversies generated over the school certificate of General Buhar said: “I see Buhari as the next President and Jonathan is aware of that, and that is the reason they are hitting him everywhere to put confusion in his camp. But a General is always a General… “
The former President said the truth of the matter is that Jonathan is aware that Buhari is qualified to contest for President election but that “some hawks with Jonathan do not want him to contest because they believed that he will win and come for them.
“The issue (of Buhari’s certificate) came up in 2007, and we investigated and found out that his WASEC is with the military and that was why he was allowed to contest in 2007. Buhari cannot listen to anyone about his certificates because as a General of Nigeria Army, he will speak when he chooses, not by Femi Fani Kayode and Okupe asking him. Fayose and other corrupt people including Kashamu do not want Buhari because of his anti-corruption slogan. “Even Jonathan did not finish his PhD course but when it was presented we stated that, it does not matter but many people do not know because it was PDP thing.” [myad]
I have been following the drama and suspense Nigerians have been subjected to by General Muhammadu Buhari, a man who wants to be the president of this country with all its seemingly intractable challenges, and I must state that for a man who has “change” as his campaign mantra, Nigerians truly deserve a lot more from him. It was William Shakespeare that wrote in one of his very famous books, Julius Ceasar: “When beggars die, there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the birth of princes.” As I reflect on this famous quote by one of the greatest writers that ever lived, it just appears to me as if he had Buhari in his mind that many years ago. I say this because if it were one ordinary politician that is stammering about whether or not he sat for and earned a School Certificate or whatever is his equivalent, I would not be worried. But for man who wants to leave a country of over 170 million people out of political, economic, security and legions of other challenges, Buhari does not seem to present a great example. Living off the resources of the country, Buhari was able to rise through the officer cadre of the Nigerian army to become a General. During this period, he received salaries and allowances, was sponsored to several training programmes at home and abroad and at a stage in his career, was appointed Minister for Communications. By the new year of 1983, he would become the Head of State of Nigeria. Having travelled this far and long, General Buhari should have picked up some vital lessons in management and administration. Critical among these lessons, I assume he should know, is that there are minimum qualifications for anyone who is aspiring for any political office in Nigeria as in anywhere else. Also important is transparency and honesty. General Buhari should have learnt that for someone aspiring to public office, there are certain things that should not be kept in the closet if you must win the trust of the people. Perhaps his military background may have beclouded his memory and made it almost impossible to appreciate that the values of honest leadership begins with disclosing what qualifies you to even lead in the first place. As a Nigerian from the north where, expectedly, he is under the rulership of an Emir, Buhari should know that there are fundamental qualifications for anyone who wants to be the Emir of Daura Emirate here he incidentally comes from. Even Buhari knows he cannot be an emir because he is nowhere in line to that very highly respected traditional stool. Buhari denied Nigerians the opportunity to enter the New Year 2015 in peace following the revelation that he may never have had the requisite qualifications to even join the Nigerian armed forces, on which platform he rose to rule this country (and with iron fists!) as a military head of state. When media reports began to suggest that he did not tender copies of his academic qualifications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), most people thought it was one cloud that would clear in a matter of days. But days became weeks and weeks are fast speeding past and forward to election day with Buhari still unable to show Nigerians that he is qualified to be their president – a president that will make change happen, whatever that means. My concern over this is in two folds. The first is as it relates to a potential dishonest general who may have been trained by Nigeria even when he was not qualified for that. Number two, and which worried me a lot more is how someone who is speaking of change has been taking the entire country for granted. I will discuss these briefly below. You see, if, as the Nigerian army has stated, Buhari entered the army merely by a letter written by his school principal stating that he had obtained his school certificate, then we have so many issues t resolve. In the first place, it is not a school that awards certificates. There are examinations bodies vested with that power and authority. As it affects Buhari, the West Africa Examinations Council or whichever body was responsible for the issuance of School Certificates at the time Buhari finished his post primary education should have been the ones we should be talking to. Anyone can write a “TO WHOM IT MAT CONCERN” letter and state whatever he or she liked. But an examinations body is the one that has the mandate to certify that someone sat for their examinations and passed same. The festering scandal over General Buhari’s qualifications may have opened a a new and ugly file on what may have been happening in the Nigerian military over the years. Is it possible that there may have be many other Buharis who joined the officer cadre of the military merely by a letter written by a school principal? Are there people like that whose academic qualifications were not vetted and certified authentic before our ranks, pips and national honours were conferred on them? How could the army not have checked to confirm that the letter written by this mysterious principal presented a true picture of who the retired General was before he was decorated as an officer of the Nigerian army? As a young student that was just admitted into the university, I was made to tender my academic qualifications, including my First School leaving Certificate and West African School Certificate as part of the admission procedures. I was not given this admission on the strength of a letter written by my principal. And the university did not stop there. It went the needful extra mile to check with the records at WAEC to certify that my claims of having obtained at least five credits in WASC, including English Language and at least one science subject was true. It was only then that they considered me fit and proper to go ahead with my course of study and eventually awarded me a degree. This did not stop there. When I began to look for jobs and eventually got one in one of Nigeria’s banks, I was put on probation for six months and had my appointment confirmed only after the bank certified that I actually sat for and obtained my WASC and Bachelor of Arts degree. If Buhari has not been able to meet these standards, then something is wrong and he should consider himself unfit to aspire for public office. In fact, Nigerians should be demanding for refunds of all salaries, allowances, cost of training and other perks he got as a soldier and Head of State of the country if he cannot prove he has not been lying to us all these years. Secondly, why is Buhari playing with the emotions of a people he wants to be their leader. I have seen the passion and fervor many Nigerians, especially those in the All Progressives Congress, have invested in the Buhari campaigns. But these people are worried that they may just be working for a man who is not qualified, a man whose academic records are not straight. Does it not occur to Buhari that he owes these people and other Nigerians a proper explanation? If Buhari has his certificates as he claims, there is only one thing to be done – show them to us. If he does not have them, as suggested in the effidavit he deposed to and submitted to INEC, it would not cost him so much to apply for the Certified True Copy of the certificate which I am sure WAEC or whichever examinations body supervised his examinations, would be too glad to send to the electoral body and them to Nigerians. If he fails here, then he has ultimately failed the true test of the leader we need at this point in our journey to nationhood. The CHANGE we need from him now is a change from taking us for a ride; a change transparency; a change to the truth about the past. When we finish dealing with this, we can then begin to look at the other CHANGE he is talking about. That is if we really need such from a man who has demonstrated he cannot change. Rotimi Coker, a political commentator, lives in Lagos. [myad]
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta has said that poverty, inadequate government infrastructure and other related issues often lead many Nigerians to steal from government coffers. According to him, in countries where corruption is less, things such as electricity, smooth educational system, adequate security and others are in place. The anti-corruption boss, who hosted a delegation of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers who paid his a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, said that his commission attacks corruption from the roots and doesn’t make much noise about it. He therefore sought not only the understanding of Journalists and media owners but a partnership to strengthen the anti-corruption campaign in the country. Ekpo Nta said that the partnership would entail the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Guild of Corporate Online Publisher, to for the training of its members to enhance effective investigative reports on corruption. “A look at some publications on corruption clearly shows that reporters of such news lack basic understanding of corruption and the mandate of different agencies in the fight against corruption. “We will work out modalities to have an MoU with your association, to establish a working relationship that will entail discussions on ways to fight corruption in the country in 2015.” Nta noted that the role of online media in information dissemination was enormous, stressing that the coming together of the publishers would address frivolous publications online. Nta urged the publishers to ensure adequate training for journalists reporting on corruption issues. Earlier, Salami Semiu, the leader of the delegation, said the Guild was established a year ago to regulate the activities of online media publishers. Semiu said the visit was to formally introduce the Guild to the commission as well to canvass partnership in business to sustain the organizations. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the people of Kano state that he will create young “Dangotes” in the Nigeria’s economy if he is voted back to power in the February election, even as he sought the blessing of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II. “When you talk of Kano, you talk of the Aliko Dangotes. We will work with the incoming government in Kano to produce young Aliko Dangotes, enhance commerce and create jobs.” President Jonathan told the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor that he was in his palace to formally introduce himself, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the election. “I am here to seek your royal blessing and to reassure the people of Kano that PDP is totally committed to developing the country.” Jonathan, who was in the state in continuation of his nationwide campaign, also assured the emir that his government is committed to improving the welfare of Kano people and Nigerians in general. He expressed condolences on the passing on of the former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and congratulated the new emir for his installation as the royal father. The President said that his government had virtually eliminated polio and should soon be officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). He added that his administration’s success in wiping out Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), even as he also spoke of the place of Kano in commerce and industry. According to him, his administration would work with the people of the state to enhance agriculture value chain to give more priority to processing and export. In his remark, Alhaji Sanusi expressed appreciation to the President for the visit and hoped that his campaign would go on smoothly even as he called on politicians to conduct their business in peace and avoid bloodshed as he noted that democracy was all about choice. “Democracy is all about giving people the chance to make their choice and so, there is no need for violence,” he said. Sanusi urged the people to accept the verdict after the election and rally around whoever emerges the winner. He expressed delight that government is doing the necessary things to provide Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) so that all eligible Nigerians could exercise their franchise. He however urged government to redouble its efforts at ensuring security before, during and after the election as he prayed for peace. He prayed for the emergence of leaders that would move the country forward and provide for tranquility, assuring that he would continue to pray for peace to reign in the country. The royal father said that he would make himself available to give advice to government at any levels. At the rally which attracted large crowd, in Polo Ground, President Jonarthan said that he would continue his effort to create young millionaires out of Kano through innovative measures being implemented by his administration and commended Northern Youths for donating the sum of N2million to his campaign. Vice President Namadi Sambo told the supporters to ignore the religious campaign against Jonathan and the PDP, saying that as the vice president to Jonathan, nobody could claim to be bigger Muslim than himself who observed all injunctions of Islam. He said that contract has been awarded to extend various railway lines in the North to enhance the business and commerce in the area and beyond. The Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, who is the North West zonal coordinator of the PDP presidential campaign told the gathering that the All Progressive Congress (APC) government of Kano State is a government of deceit. He recalled the achievements of former Kano governor and Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, advising Kano people not give in to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s false pretenses but to vote for all PDP candidates. The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Adamu Muazu, highlighted the achievements of the Jonathan’s administration and stressed the need for Kano people to vote for him. He said the mammoth crowd at the rally was an indication that the negative propaganda of the opposition had failed. The Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization and former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, said that Governor Kwankwaso stole the mandate of the PDP and had since been lying to the people of the state. The wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo, in her address, observed that the Jonathan administration had given priority to women and youth through appointments and empowerment and therefore urged the people to vote for the President and other PDP candidates in the election. [myad]
Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that the issue in the ongoing campaign over his school certificate which he obtained 53 years ago is more of a design by the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) to divert attention to the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of young Nigerians, the state of insecurity and the pervasive official corruption. Reacting to the controversies that have been raging on over his school certificate when he addressed newsmen in Kano today, General Buhari said: “although the ruling party may want to wish this away, the issue in this campaign cannot be my certificate which I obtained 53 years ago. “The issues are the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of our young people, the state of insecurity, the pervasive official corruption which has impoverished our people and the lack of concern of the government for anything other than the retention of power at all costs.” The APC flag bearer who said that he would not have responded to the controversies which he said he would have dismissed as sheer mischief that did worth the nation’s while, explained that he actually attended Provincial Secondary School, Katsina. “I graduated in 1961 with many prominent Nigerians, including General Shehu Yar’Adua, former chief of staff at the Supreme Headquarters, and Justice Umaru Abdullahi, a former President of the Court of Appeal. “We sat for the University of Cambridge/WASC Examination together in 1961, the year we graduated. My examination number was 8280002, and I passed the examination in the Second Division.” General Buhari said that he had formally requested his old school, the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina (which is now known as Government College, Katsina) to make available the school’s copy of the result of the Cambridge/West African School Certificate, adding that the certificate would be made public as soon as the it is released. The former military General Officer Commanding (GOC) and former Nigerian Head of State regretted that the military which he served diligently turned its back on him at this moment of his need, saying: “I had assumed all along that all my records were in the custody of the Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army. “Much to my surprise, we are now told that although a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificates in my personal file.” [myad]
The second Republic Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari has made it clear that he had never pronounced any endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the February election, saying “the report is nothing but a blatant lie and I have condemned it in strong terms.”
In a statement released by one of the ex-president’s sons, Muhammad Bala Shagari, Shagari said that the media claiming he had endorsed the incumbent president and condemned Muhammadu Buhari’s candidature as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in bad taste.
“I’d like to inform the general public and concerned citizens of this country that the speech that was credited to His Excellency, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, GCFR (Turakin Sokoto) by some media agencies and online news blogs in which His Excellency was reported to have endorsed President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and commending his government for some achievements is nothing but a blatant lie. And we’ve condemned it in strong terms.
“It is pertinent to note that Alhaji Shehu Shagari is not a card-carrying member of any political party neither (does he) support the candidature of any politician. Alhaji Shehu Shagari was for long retired from partisan politics, he’s known for his proven integrity and distinguished nationalist and elder statesman who treats every Nigerian/politician equally irrespective of his/her political party, tribe, ethnicity or religion.
“Therefore Alhaji Shehu Shagari has never ever issued any press statement [or granted] audience [to] any media agency to comment on the forthcoming elections or to speak of any politician, be it president or not.
“We therefore urge the general public to regard such publication as mere fabrications and concoctions aimed to tarnish the good image of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.” [myad]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police have begun the monitoring of many of Nigeria’s serving governors, ministers and other top public figures, who have been siphoning public funds abroad. It has been revealed that their movements are being monitored and would soon be exposed to Nigerians and the international community. Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde said in Abuja while receiving a top official of the London Metropolitan Police, Jonathan Benton, who was in his office to share ideas on the ongoing investigation involving the two organisations that the two agencies are pursuing corruption cases involving top Nigerians politicians who have been discovered to be committing graft in the course of their service to the nation. Lamorde said that investigation into the financial activities of some unnamed serving governors, ministers and other top public officials in Nigeria is going on with a view to establishing credible evidence that would lead to inescapable prosecution. He said the commission, having learnt from the mistake of the past, would not name the affected high profile suspects so as not to put them on the alert but would arrest and charge them to court once the agency was through with investigations. The chairman, who did not also say how much the affected suspects might have stolen from the country so far, maintained that top officials of the government use proxies, family members and third party companies registered in tax havens to steal public funds thereby making it difficult for them to be tracked and punished for graft. “We are pursuing several cases involving top politicians with the Metropolitan Police of London and we are mindful not to talk about them until investigation is concluded. “We are also reviewing the cases and will soon make them public when we are ready to go to court. We are not in a hurry to name them. Any Nigerian in public office who steals public funds should know that there will be no hiding place. Probe of serving govs “Investigation of serving governors is ongoing but we won’t name those involved. Some of them will lose immunity in five months. We don’t want to arrest and release suspects anymore but to be armed with incontrovertible evidence to charge them to court once arrested.” The chairman said the Metropolitan Police which has been working with the agency for the past 10 years, had helped Nigerian significantly in stemming the tide of corruption by public officials. The chairman said it was the agency that made it possible for the arrest, trial and imprisonment of former governors DSP Alameyeisegha, Joshua Dariye and James Ibori for corruption. He said because of the collaboration between the two anti-graft agencies, Nigeria would soon have some assets forfeited from Nigerian public figures returned to the country but did not say how much the country is expecting from the forfeiture. And the London Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector, Jonathan Benton, said while meeting with Lamorde that his organisation is willing to do more work with the EFCC and repatriate Nigeria’s wealth stolen and hidden abroad by its officials. Benton assured that any stolen fund by Nigerians, which passes through London, seen as the financial capital of Europe, would be traced and repatriated by the organisation as long as they continue to work with the EFCC and Nigeria. “If we find evidence of financial crimes in UK we will assist Nigeria and the EFCC in repatriating the money,” Benton assured. [myad]
Reproduced below is the testimonial written by the Principal of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, on Muhammadu Buhari, a form six student then, to the Army Selection Board in 1961
BUHARI MOHAMED Date of Birth: 17 Dec 1942. Date of leaving school: Dec 1961 Date covered by report: From Jan 1956 to Dec 1961.
“Entered Jan 1954. Taking normal 6 years to WASC. Head Boy of the School. Played for 1st Soccer XI on occasion. Reserve for 1ste Hockey XI. Plays House Soccer and Hockey. Member Red Cross Junior xxxx. Vice-President of the Debating Society. Active and Alert, physically and mentally. Took WASC 1961. Predicted a Grade 2 Certificate for him. This is a reasonable hope. Wants a career in the Army. A fine boy of honest and open disposition. A trifle gentle in dealing with his Juniors. Loyal. Polite. Well mannered. Consciencious. Went to UK 1961 for a short visit sponsored by Elder Dempster Ltd.
Highly recommended as potential officer material” [myad]
The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has lamented that the Nigeria Federal Government has used the Immigration job recruitment to defraud unemployed Nigerian youths of over N800 million.
The governor, who was addressing a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Etsako Local Government Area of the state, said that despite the huge amount of money collected from applicants seeking for the ill-fated Immigration recruitment “no Nigerian can point to any of their relations who have benefited from the job and even government’s policy on job creation.
“The PDP Federal Government cheated unemployed people, poor youths. They used a private consultancy firm to ask people to pay one thousand naira to an account. Nigerian rules are clear; you cannot collect money from unemployed people looking for jobs.
“PDP wanted to make money even from people who cannot take three square meals a day. They collected over N800 million from unemployed youths in the country. Nigeria has to change. Have you ever heard where you do interview in a stadium?”
The governor lamented the deaths at the Nigeria Immigrations Service (NIS), employment saga and queried the government for failing to punish those who were involved in the bloody scam.
He expressed surprised that even the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who was in the centre of the scandal later received an award of excellence after conducting the fatal interview that claimed the lives of Nigerian youth.
In saner climes, Oshiomhole argued, the minister should have resigned and turned himself in for prosecution.
Governor Oshiomhole who said that President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s claim of creating three million jobs was phony, insisted that the administration had not been able to deliver on promises made to Nigerian electorate in 2011.
After spending over $30 billion on power, he said Nigerians still live in darkness while the promise of constructing a second bridge across the River Niger has not started despite billions already spent on the project.
“They claim to have created three million jobs. Among you people that are here, how many of your brothers have got Federal Government jobs. Over the years, government employment is done based on rules,” Mr. Oshiomhole said.
He urged Nigerians not to support a government that impoverishes the citizenry and destroys the productive sector through criminal importation policy that enriches a few people.
He said, “They will import kerosene and distribute it to their friends. We are supposed to be buying kerosene at fifty naira. They have spent over N200 billion subsidizing kerosene for their own pockets.
“So when we say they must go you need to understand why we must vote out Jonathan. The issue in this election is that we need a President whose word is binding. As we speak, we don’t have any pride when you say you are a Nigerian.”
He called on Nigerians to demand explanations from the Federal Government on how it spent over $30 billion in the power sector without a concomitant improvement in the sector.
Oshiomhole urged the people to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Muhmmadu Buhari, and APC candidates at all levels, saying an APC Government will fight corruption, indiscipline and insurgency. [myad]
Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) may be travelling to the Washington DC in the United States of America towards the end of January to honour an invitation by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
A letter of invitation, signed by the Director, African Programme of CSIS, Jennifer Cooke, requested Buhari “to give a major public address on Nigeria’s future as it stands on the edge of a pivotal national elections.”
Ms. Cooke gave Buhari the liberty to choose a convenient date for the proposed lecture.
“We propose to hold this event on a day of your choosing on either the week of January 5th or the week of January 26th, 2015 but will of course do our best to accommodate your schedule should you have other preferences.”
Ms. Cooke who said the event is expected to attract a large number of United State policymakers, academics, business leaders and members of the diaspora, also told Mr. Buhari that he would be expected to take part in a private off-the-record briefing with a small group of senior US government officials and U.S Congress.
“The event would be on-the-record and given the importance of Nigeria’s elections would be certain to attract a large audience of U.S. policymakers, academics, business leaders, and members of the diaspora. In addition, we invite you to take part in a private, off-the-record briefing with a small group of senior officials from the U.S. government and U.S. Congress. This will be an excellent opportunity to develop contacts and articulate your key messages to an influential audience of foreign policy decision-makers.”
“The CSIS Africa Program has long been engaged in research and analysis on the African continent, and Nigeria specifically. For the past year, we have hosted a conference series analyzing various dimensions of Nigeria’s forthcoming elections and their implications for peace, security, and prosperity in Africa’s most important country. These conferences have provided a platform for Nigerian statesmen to interact directly with Washington policymakers and we wanted to extend this opportunity to you. We hope that your schedule permits your participation and look forward to receiving a positive reply.”
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Implications Of The Big Question-Marks On Buhari’s Qualifications, By Rotimi Coker
I have been following the drama and suspense Nigerians have been subjected to by General Muhammadu Buhari, a man who wants to be the president of this country with all its seemingly intractable challenges, and I must state that for a man who has “change” as his campaign mantra, Nigerians truly deserve a lot more from him.
It was William Shakespeare that wrote in one of his very famous books, Julius Ceasar: “When beggars die, there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the birth of princes.” As I reflect on this famous quote by one of the greatest writers that ever lived, it just appears to me as if he had Buhari in his mind that many years ago.
I say this because if it were one ordinary politician that is stammering about whether or not he sat for and earned a School Certificate or whatever is his equivalent, I would not be worried. But for man who wants to leave a country of over 170 million people out of political, economic, security and legions of other challenges, Buhari does not seem to present a great example.
Living off the resources of the country, Buhari was able to rise through the officer cadre of the Nigerian army to become a General. During this period, he received salaries and allowances, was sponsored to several training programmes at home and abroad and at a stage in his career, was appointed Minister for Communications. By the new year of 1983, he would become the Head of State of Nigeria.
Having travelled this far and long, General Buhari should have picked up some vital lessons in management and administration. Critical among these lessons, I assume he should know, is that there are minimum qualifications for anyone who is aspiring for any political office in Nigeria as in anywhere else.
Also important is transparency and honesty. General Buhari should have learnt that for someone aspiring to public office, there are certain things that should not be kept in the closet if you must win the trust of the people.
Perhaps his military background may have beclouded his memory and made it almost impossible to appreciate that the values of honest leadership begins with disclosing what qualifies you to even lead in the first place.
As a Nigerian from the north where, expectedly, he is under the rulership of an Emir, Buhari should know that there are fundamental qualifications for anyone who wants to be the Emir of Daura Emirate here he incidentally comes from. Even Buhari knows he cannot be an emir because he is nowhere in line to that very highly respected traditional stool.
Buhari denied Nigerians the opportunity to enter the New Year 2015 in peace following the revelation that he may never have had the requisite qualifications to even join the Nigerian armed forces, on which platform he rose to rule this country (and with iron fists!) as a military head of state.
When media reports began to suggest that he did not tender copies of his academic qualifications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), most people thought it was one cloud that would clear in a matter of days. But days became weeks and weeks are fast speeding past and forward to election day with Buhari still unable to show Nigerians that he is qualified to be their president – a president that will make change happen, whatever that means.
My concern over this is in two folds. The first is as it relates to a potential dishonest general who may have been trained by Nigeria even when he was not qualified for that. Number two, and which worried me a lot more is how someone who is speaking of change has been taking the entire country for granted.
I will discuss these briefly below. You see, if, as the Nigerian army has stated, Buhari entered the army merely by a letter written by his school principal stating that he had obtained his school certificate, then we have so many issues t resolve.
In the first place, it is not a school that awards certificates. There are examinations bodies vested with that power and authority. As it affects Buhari, the West Africa Examinations Council or whichever body was responsible for the issuance of School Certificates at the time Buhari finished his post primary education should have been the ones we should be talking to. Anyone can write a “TO WHOM IT MAT CONCERN” letter and state whatever he or she liked. But an examinations body is the one that has the mandate to certify that someone sat for their examinations and passed same.
The festering scandal over General Buhari’s qualifications may have opened a a new and ugly file on what may have been happening in the Nigerian military over the years. Is it possible that there may have be many other Buharis who joined the officer cadre of the military merely by a letter written by a school principal? Are there people like that whose academic qualifications were not vetted and certified authentic before our ranks, pips and national honours were conferred on them? How could the army not have checked to confirm that the letter written by this mysterious principal presented a true picture of who the retired General was before he was decorated as an officer of the Nigerian army?
As a young student that was just admitted into the university, I was made to tender my academic qualifications, including my First School leaving Certificate and West African School Certificate as part of the admission procedures. I was not given this admission on the strength of a letter written by my principal.
And the university did not stop there. It went the needful extra mile to check with the records at WAEC to certify that my claims of having obtained at least five credits in WASC, including English Language and at least one science subject was true. It was only then that they considered me fit and proper to go ahead with my course of study and eventually awarded me a degree.
This did not stop there. When I began to look for jobs and eventually got one in one of Nigeria’s banks, I was put on probation for six months and had my appointment confirmed only after the bank certified that I actually sat for and obtained my WASC and Bachelor of Arts degree.
If Buhari has not been able to meet these standards, then something is wrong and he should consider himself unfit to aspire for public office. In fact, Nigerians should be demanding for refunds of all salaries, allowances, cost of training and other perks he got as a soldier and Head of State of the country if he cannot prove he has not been lying to us all these years.
Secondly, why is Buhari playing with the emotions of a people he wants to be their leader. I have seen the passion and fervor many Nigerians, especially those in the All Progressives Congress, have invested in the Buhari campaigns.
But these people are worried that they may just be working for a man who is not qualified, a man whose academic records are not straight. Does it not occur to Buhari that he owes these people and other Nigerians a proper explanation?
If Buhari has his certificates as he claims, there is only one thing to be done – show them to us. If he does not have them, as suggested in the effidavit he deposed to and submitted to INEC, it would not cost him so much to apply for the Certified True Copy of the certificate which I am sure WAEC or whichever examinations body supervised his examinations, would be too glad to send to the electoral body and them to Nigerians.
If he fails here, then he has ultimately failed the true test of the leader we need at this point in our journey to nationhood. The CHANGE we need from him now is a change from taking us for a ride; a change transparency; a change to the truth about the past.
When we finish dealing with this, we can then begin to look at the other CHANGE he is talking about. That is if we really need such from a man who has demonstrated he cannot change.
Rotimi Coker, a political commentator, lives in Lagos. [myad]