Buhari: speaks today

Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress will address the press on Wednesday morning, according to a terse statement by the campaign team.

The statement said Buhari will use the forum in Kano to clear the air over the controversy generated over his academic qualifications, in the wake of the disclosure by the Nigerian army spokesman that the army does not have a copy of his school certificate in his military record.

At a press conference in Abuja today,Brig-. Gen. Olajide Laleye, the army spokesman said the Nigerian Army does not have the original, certified true copy or statement of results of retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

Laleye said that the entry made on the Nigerian Army Form 199A at the point of documentation after Buhari was commissioned 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.

“Neither the original copy, certified true copy (CTC) nor statement of result of Major-.Gen. Mohammadu Buhari ‘s WASC result is in his personal file.

Laleye said that the army holds the retired senior officer in high esteem and respect and would not be a party to any controversy surrounding his eligibility for any political office.

He said that suffice to state that Buhari rose steadily to the enviable rank of Major General before becoming the Head of State of the country in December 1983.

“The media hype on the retired Buhari’s credentials as well as numerous requests made by individuals and cooperate bodies to the Nigerian Army on this issue have necessitated that we provide the facts as contained in the retired senior officer’s service records.

“Records available indicate that Buhari applied to join the military as a form six student of the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, on Oct. 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 Nigerian Army that before candidates are shortlisted for commissioning into the officers’ cadre of the service, the selection board verifies the original copies of credentials as presented.

“There is no available record to show that this process was followed in the 1960s,” Laleye said.

Supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan are making a capital out of the press statement, saying that Buhari should be disqualified from contesting the election.

The Nigerian constitution prescribes a minimum academic qualification of senior school certificate or its equivalent to candidates for the Nigerian presidency.

*P.M. NEWS