The controversy being generated
by the inability of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to submit his certificates
to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is unavoidable. Section
131 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, says, a person
shall be qualified for election to the office of President if: (a) he is a
citizen of Nigeria by birth (b) he has attained the age of forty years (c) he
is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party (d)
he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.
Gen. Buhari in affidavit he sworn to at the Federal High Court, Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja, said all his academic certificates were with the Secretary of
the Military Board; this the military has confirmed. It is unfathomable that
Gen. Buhari, a self-styled anti-corruption crusader who supposed to demonstrate
integrity, honesty and transparency in all his deeds could keep Nigerians in
suspense over the submission of his certificates. Nigerians expected him to be
above board in all things!
However, there are certain
questions to be asked. How did Gen. Buhari’s original certificates get to the
military as nobody submits original certificates to organizations; certificates
are only showed for sighting and confirmation. Original certificates are never
submitted! Again, let us agree that Gen. Buhari actually submitted his original
certificates to the military, why is it so difficult for him to retrieve them
and submit same to INEC? Additionally, why did Buhari submit an affidavit to
INEC in place of his certificates that are with the military? Affidavits are
tendered when documents are lost and the concerned issuer of such documents had
not issued replacements. To obtain replacement of lost certificates does not usually
take a long time; fortunately for Gen. Buhari, he has his certificates with the
military so he can easily obtain them and submit same to INEC. In the case of
Buhari, many years had gone since he retired from the military yet he didn’t
deem it fit to retrieve his certificates from the military after 30 years! Can
Nigerians say with confidence that the action of Gen. Buhari portrays him as a
man of integrity and honesty?
Gen. Buhari had contested the
presidential election three times; 2003, 2007 and 2011. Does it mean in the
past three elections, Buhari did not submit his certificates to INEC for
scrutiny? If he did not submit his certificates to INEC in previous elections,
why was he cleared by INEC, the electoral regulatory body to contest in those
elections? These questions are germane owing to the fact that Nigerians are
demanding accountability from the current government and it must be extended to
those aspiring to contest the 2015 general elections because electoral fraud is
the worst type of corruption. Was it not a colossal failure on the part of INEC
to have cleared Gen. Buhari in those past elections without verifying his
educational qualifications?
Some Nigerians in one school of
thought, had said Gen. Buhari could contest the presidential election without
the requisite qualifications or with NEPA bill! This is rather ridiculous and
appalling. The questions on the minds of probing Nigerians are: first, is that what
the constitution recommends? The section of the constitution quoted above
clearly states what is expected of a presidential aspirant. Second, are Nigerians
who said Gen. Buhari could contest the presidential election without school
certificate or with NEPA bill also saying the constitution should be suspended
just because Gen. Buhari is in the presidential race? If the constitution is
suspended to enable Gen. Buhari contest the Presidential election, should it also
be suspended in other areas of our lives to enable all Nigerians do things
without adhering to the constitution? For instance, should candidates seeking
admission into higher institutions be allowed to gain admission without having
five credits including English Language and Mathematics as required by the laws
of the land? Can Nigerians say without fear or favour that this is the type of
change they have been clamouring for? I do not think so!
In another school of thought,
some Nigerians said since Gen. Buhari had contested the presidential elections
three times and was cleared by INEC in those instances, it was no longer
necessary for him to submit his academic qualifications. Are these Nigerians
saying if a candidate had written the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board
(JAMB) examination before and such a candidate reapplied for same examination,
he or she should not submit their West African Examination Council (WAEC)
results or its equivalent to JAMB as evidence that they are qualified to write
the examination?
Undoubtedly, the issue of Gen.
Buhari’s academic qualifications had attracted sentiment rather than
constitutionalism; this is not palatable for the country considering the fact
that Nigerians are currently demanding accountability. It must be stated
obviously that if Gen. Buhari refuses to retrieve his academic qualifications
from the military and submit same to INEC as demanded by the 1999 Constitution,
he should not arrogate to himself the status of an anti-corruption crusader!
Every Nigerian must be made to play by
the rule especially at this time that the demand for accountability from the
leaders is vehement. Every Nigerian including Gen. Buhari that is aspiring to
contest for any elective positions should demonstrate integrity and honesty by
supplying the prerequisites as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution which is the
supreme regulatory law of the land. No Nigerian should be accorded the status
of a sacred cow in this era of accountability.
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