Certificate controversy: It’s a dent on Nigeria not Buhari - Momah

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By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

ABUJA — Raging controversy over the educational qualification of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to contest this month’s Presidential election has been described as a dent on Nigeria and not the former Head of State.

A former Minister of Science and Technology, Gen. Sam Momah, who made the call in an interview with Vanguard yesterday, warned those questioning Buhari’s qualification to bury their heads in shame for trying to denigrate Nigeria before the world.

Momah, who had worked in several formations in the Nigerian Army and as a Principal Staff Officer to Buhari when he was the General Officer Commanding 4th Division in Lagos, described as despicable the current attempt to disparage the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate.

The former minister said it was wrong for some politicians to demonise Buhari, who had undergone several strategic military and educational trainings at home and abroad, including the prestigeous United States War College obtaining a Higher Diploma.

Describing the controversy over Buhari’s certificate as ridiculous, Momah said the action of the promoters of the matter was clearly aimed at distracting Nigerians from the main issues at stake, which they should explain to Nigerians.

Momah said: “Those accusing Buhari of not having the qualification to contest election are simply doing so to distract him. Buhari is one of Nigeria’s best Generals who has trained up to the American War College, graduating with a post graduate diploma.

“I, therefore, find it very petty and offensive for some elements to begin to make noise about Buhari’s qualifications. The people behind this very shameful act should note that they are ignorantly denigrating Nigeria and not Buhari.”

 

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Certificate controversy: It’s a dent on Nigeria not Buhari - Momah

IBB’s govt seized Buhari’s certificates, says APC

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by Kayode Adelowoka

THE academic credentials of former military ruler and presidential hopeful, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, were seized by the military junta of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida sometime in 1985.

Buhari and Certificate

That was the submission on Wednesday of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political party fielding General Buhari for next month’s presidential election.

According to the party, the credentials were carted away by soldiers who raided the home of Buhari, when the Babangida junta seized power from the APC candidate in a coup.

Buhari, who had staged a coup against the civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari on 31 December 1983, was also ousted by his military colleagues on 27 August 1985, led by Gen. Babangida.

“After the coup and the arrest of Gen. Buhari by the Babangida administration, military officers raided the home of Buhari, ransacked it and carted away many documents. Buhari’s academic credentials were among the documents that were taken away,” a senior official of the APC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin said on Wednesday.

Fashakin, who was the spokesman of Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) before it merged with other parties to form the APC, made the disclosure during a live interview on Channels Television in Lagos.

Buhari’s academic qualification has become an issue in the coming general election since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that the Army General had lodged with it an affidavit that his academic credentials were with military authorities.

Section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution prescribes minimum qualification for election into the office of the president.

It states: “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if – “he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

The provision is silent on whether the “school certificate” should be primary school or secondary school.”

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has consistently expressed fears that Buhari has neither.

Fashakin believes that Buhari will not be contravening the nation’s laws even if fails to present his basic school leaving certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He outlined the primary and secondary schools attended by Buhari and drew attention to the several military trainings of the General.

Fashakin said that the Electoral Act simply requires that aspirants submit “documents” on their credentials, adding that the affidavit deposed to by Buhari that the certificates were with the military could satisfy the requirement of “document.”

A top serving General at the Defence Headquarters, in an interview with the Daily Times on Wednesday, expressed doubts on Buhari’s claim of credentials being with the military.

The General, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Daily Times: “The Army only keeps the Course Reports on officers and this remains confidential. In addition, the military takes custody only of photocopies of all other credentials submitted by officers. The originals of all credentials remain with the officers.”

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IBB’s govt seized Buhari’s certificates, says APC