MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S WAEC CERTIFICATE SAGA – A DISGRACE TO THE NATION.
In the build up to Nigeria's 2015 Presidential elections, then candidate of the opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC). Muhammadu Buhari stated categorically that his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate was in the custody of the Nigerian Army. This became a subject of ridicule and embarrassment to the most populated black nation in the world blessed with great minds and intellectuals.
To put things in proper perspective, in 1961 (year Buhari claimed to have written his Secondary school leaving exam) only two examination bodies existed Cambridge Certificate from University of Cambridge for secondary school students And London Certificate (GCE) from University of London for private students and it begs the question If Muhammadu Buhari enrolled in the Nigerian Army before 1966 when WAEC had not been established as an examination body, how then is Buhari claiming to have his WASC certificate under the Nigerian Army’s custody misplaced? This is ridiculously laughable. Let it be clearly noted that WAEC can never issue a certificate be it attestation or confirmation certificate to a candidate in an examination the body did not conduct.
Section 131(d) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended states that: 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 inability of then presidential candidate of APC, Muhammadu Buhari to provide the #WAEC certificate in 2015 cast aspersion on the competence of the contestant of the highest office in the country.
Against all odds, INEC declared Muhammadu Buhari winner of the 2015 presidential election without clearing the air on the status of his Senior School certificate. In seeking re -election in 2019, Muhammadu #Buhari who had been the Commander in Chief for four years (2015-2019) failed to mandate the Nigerian Army to provide a copy of the said certificate but rather submitted court affidavit in place of the WAEC certificate. This is a clear indication that the President may not possibly have the minimum academic requirement needed to contest the election. Recently, President Buhari's campaign spokesperson Festus Keyamo, ESQ declared that one does not need WAEC certificate to be President. What a debacle!
To further expose the fraudulent farce, a WAEC official at the Presidential elections petition tribunal during cross examination openly confirmed that he did not sign the said Cambridge certificate presented by Buhari to INEC during the 2019 General election. The latest acknowledgement by the Nigerian Minister of Culture and Information Mr. Lai Mohammed during Media chat on Channels Television (Sunrise Daily) said that Nigerians should pardon the President as he (Buhari) does not know where he kept his WAEC certificate which has been over 53 years now. This is to confirm that the President lied under an oath to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that his certificate was in custody of the Nigerian army.
The electoral umpire Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is responsible for clearing a candidate with certificate saga for the highest office in the land. Therefore, in the light of these, the Nigeria judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the international community are called upon to rise and condemn this deceit by Buhari to the Nigerian people. Justice must be done by the Presidential elections petition tribunal and the supreme court to bring this certificate saga to a logical conclusion hence saving Nigerians from this dictatorial imposition.
Nigeria President Buhari Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT. Legal practitioners African Independent Television Nigerian Television Authority Vanguard News Arise Television Television Continental (TVC) ChannelsTelevision Nigeria European Union – EU African Union HQ Ecowas – Economic Community of West African States
