Katsina college releases Buhari’s statement of results

 GeneraL Muhammadu Buhari and his result

The Government College, Katsina (formerly Provincial Secondary School) on Wednesday released the credentials of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Copies of the credentials from the college were made available to The PUNCH by the Director   of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu, shortly after Buhari told journalists in Kano that he had formally requested the institution to make his documents available.

The credentials were a statement of results issued by the state Ministry of Education and a confidential result sheet by the University of Cambridge.

They were both dated January 21, stamped and signed by the Principal and Examination Officer of the college whose names did not show.

In the confidential result sheet, Buhari’s name was the second among   the 17 candidates that sat the Cambridge/ West African School Certificate Examination in 1961.

When one of our correspondents informed the principal on the telephone that no signature or name of a Cambridge university official was sighted on the confidential result sheet, he replied, “As far as we concerned, we only issued the General(Buhari) what we have here.”

The PUNCH however sent an email to the   Cambridge University   concerning the APC candidate’s result but had yet to receive a response as of 10pm on Wednesday.

Buhari   had at a news conference at the Kano State Government House,  dismissed the controversy over his school certificate as a mischief orchestrated by the Peoples Democratic Party.

He   explained that but for concerns being raised by his numerous supporters, he would have ignored the matter because he considered it a non-issue.

The APC candidate said that the fact that he sat for and obtained the Cambridge/ West Africa Examination Council Certificate was not in doubt because his examination number, 8280002, was verifiable.

Buhari also named some of his classmates who sat for the same examination as the late Maj. Gen. Shehu   Yar’Adua and a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi.

He said he had assumed that copies of his certificate were in his personal file with the Military Board but that he was surprised to hear the Army claiming on Tuesday that they did not have them.

The Katsina born former Head of State and politician said, “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 certificate in my personal file.

“This is why I formally requested my old school, the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina (which is now known as Government College) to make available the school’s copy of the result of the Cambridge/West African School Certificate. This will be made available to the press the moment this is available.

“I attended Provincial Secondary School, Katsina. I graduated in 1961 with many prominent Nigerians, including Gen   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.”

Buhari noted that although the pdp would want to wish it away, the issue in the 2015 presidential election could not be about his school certificate which he obtained 53 years ago.

Buhari Certificate

He argued that the issues in the campaign remained the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of   young Nigerians,   insecurity,   corruption   and the lack of concern of the government for anything other than the retention of power at all costs.

When contacted,   WAEC’s Public Affairs Officer, National Office, Demianus Ojijeogu,   said the council had no right to disclose any person’s result to the public.

According to him, even if the Council has Buhari’s result or that of any other person, it is a personal document kept in trust.

Ojijeogu said, “Only the court of law can mandate us to release such information. It is not something that we will easily divulge to the public unless there is a directive from the court.

“Again, the general’s result is a personal document. It is akin to going to the bank with somebody’s account number to seek clarification of the person’s account. No responsible bank will respond to that enquiry.”

But the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said Buhari’s statement at the news conference contrasted with his deposition in a sworn affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He told journalists in Abuja that the Army should withdraw the APC candidate’s rank for perjury since he   claimed earlier in the affidavit that his certificate was with the military.

Fani-Kayode   said, “The implication of the action of this so-called ‘Mr. Clean’ is nothing but perjury and we all know that this is a grave criminal offence under our laws and constitution.”

He said the implication of this was that without the availability of the certificate, Buhari ought not to have been a commissioned officer in the   Army in the first place.

The Presidential campaign organisation spokesperson also called on Buhari to tender an apology to Nigerians and withdraw from the presidential race.

He said, “We urge Buhari and his party to do the right thing and tender an unreserved apology to the Nigerian people, throw in the towel and report to the nearest police station for interrogation and prosecution.

“Anything less than that would be an insult to the collective intelligence and integrity of   Nigerians .

[/media-credit] Muhammadu Buhari (arrowed) as a student of the Government College (formerly Provincial Secondary School), Katsina, with his classmates and teachers in a group photograph in 1960.

“We also urge the Nigerian Armed Forces to consider the possibility of stripping him of his rank and privileges given the fact that he was never qualified to join the   Army as a commissioned officer in the first place because he never had the prerequisite qualifications which was a school certificate.

“Given this, at best Buhari should never have been anything more than a non-commissioned officer.”

Fani-Kayode called on Nigerians to disregard anyone claiming that the PDP was behind the brouhaha that had followed the non-presentation of Buhari’s certificate.

Remove Jonathan’s posters from lamp posts – LASG

Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. George Noah

The Lagos State Government has ordered President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign groups, including the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, to remove the President’s campaign materials illegally mounted on street lamp posts in the state.

The Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency, George Noah, said if those concerned failed to heed the order, the agency’s enforcement team would remove them in line with the enabling law.

Noah spoke in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday, saying LASAA, due to certain developments in electioneering campaigns, had decided to tell the public about the impunity and illegality that “posed immeasurable and long term damage to those who erect, operate and maintain billboards in the state”.

Noah said, “In the last 48 hours, two advertisers in the outdoor sector had terminated multi-million naira contracts with outdoor agencies registered by LASAA to operate in the state.”

He stated that the contracts were terminated as a result of parallel and illegal mounting of Jonathan’s campaign materials on posts paid for by the advertisers.

“The two advertisers in question are a Chinese telecoms firm, Huawei, and Globacom. The outdoor agencies affected are Touch Point Limited and Clearedge Limited. Both agencies have lost N350m.

“The illegal and brazen act by agents of the Peoples Democratic Party is unjust, inconsiderate and therefore unacceptable at a time outdoor advertising is facing stiff competition from television, radio and the social media.

“The illegal act is capable of destroying outdoor agencies in our state. It will almost certainly lead to lay-off of workers and loss of revenue for our stakeholders,” Noah said.

He added that in line with the agency’s statutory functions to regulate and control outdoor advertisement in Lagos, the illegal posters must go.

“LASAA hereby directs the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria and its affiliates to remove all campaign materials on street lamp posts in Lagos State immediately, failing which our enforcement team will remove same in line with the enabling law setting up LASAA,” Noah said.

He also alleged that the PDP agents had been removing the advert materials of Glo on poles, which the telecom company paid for, to replace them with Jonathan’s materials.

Noah further alleged that policemen usually gave the PDP agents backing, adding that the police had withdrawn the policemen attached to the agency.

Gunmen attack Ekiti APC secretariat

 Chairman, APC in Ekiti State, Mr. Jide Awe

Gunmen on Wednesday night attacked the Ekiti State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Ado-Ekiti and destroyed the flags and posters of the party’s candidates.

According to a statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the gunmen came in four Hilux vehicles and a car to unleash the mayhem.

“Shortly before they arrived, streetlights along Ajilosun Street where the APC secretariat is located were switched off. The hoodlums wounded the security man at the gate of the APC office,” the statement said.

Olatunbosun claimed that the Director of Department of State Service, Mr. Samuel Tamuno and the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, had been informed about the development.

When contacted, Lakanu confirmed the crisis saying, “I don’t think there was any sporadic shooting there. 

But I have drafted my men there to maintain peace and order.”

The party said Governor Ayo Fayose had concluded plans to hold a rally at Fajuyi Roundabout in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday in a bid to disrupt the APC presidential rally scheduled for the same day in the city.

“Fajuyi roundabout is a major road to Ekitiparapo Square along NTA road where the APC is holding its presidential rally on Saturday.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission’s rule prevents two parties to hold rallies on same day in the same state capital. The PDP held its rally about two weeks ago,” the statement added.

Nigerian Army redeploys spokesman, others

 THE Nigerian Army has redeployed its Director of Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Olajide Laleye.

Laleye’s redeployment was said to be routine and part of regular redeployment and postings of officers by the leadership of the Army.

A security source said shortly after the monthly meeting of the Forum of Security and Response Agencies in Abuja at the Rock View Hotel, Abuja, that the director of army public relations had been deployed to Benin as the Commander in charge of the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

Laleye would neither confirm nor deny his new posting on Wednesday.

When our correspondent contacted the Army spokesman on the telephone, he said that the Army would come out with a formal position on postings within the service later.

“The Army would make a formal reaction on redeployments within the service later,” he said.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively on Monday that the Army authorities had approved routine postings affecting a substantial number of officers.

The postings were said to have also affected the General Officer Commanding the 7th Division, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim.

Ibrahim has been moved to the Army headquarters to ‘occupy a high position’ while Maj. Gen. E Adeosun is appointed to take over as GOC of the 7th Division.

Until his appointment, Adeosun had been in charge of the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State.

It was further reported that the GOC in charge of the 2nd Division, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Abejirin, had been retired from the service “after years of meritorious service.”

The forum has representatives from the military and intelligence and response agencies in the country.

Laleye, on Monday, had said, “The Nigerian Army has carried out postings as a result of promotions and retirements. Postings are done periodically in the Army as a result of promotions and retirements…”

Meanwhile, the Forum of Spokespersons for Security and Response Agencies has warned politicians against making inciting and reckless utterances as the nation moves nearer to the 2015 elections.

The Forum also called on religious and community leaders to sensitise their subjects against involvement in political thuggery and violence.

The FOSSRA’s comment was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its monthly meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

The communiqué was signed by the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade (Chairman), and the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Emmanuel Okeh, who is the secretary of the organisation.

The communiqué said that all the security agencies in the country were involved in training and mobilisation of logistics required for the successful conduct of the elections in the country.

They also assured the citizenry of their resolve to remain impartial and non-partisan in the performance of their security responsibilities during and after the conduct of the forthcoming election.

Jonathan seeks Sanusi’s support for re-election

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; President Goodluck Jonathan; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during the Pdp Presidential Campaign Team’s visit to the Emir in Kano...on Wednesday.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday visited the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, in his palace in a bid to get the traditional ruler’s blessing for his re-election bid.

He was in the city in continuation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaigns.

The relationship between the two became strained last year when the President suspended Sanusi as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Jonathan had suspended Sanusi as the apex bank’s boss over what was described as financial recklessness and thereafter directed the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria to further investigate him.

Shortly after his suspension, however, Sanusi became the Emir of Kano following the death of the former occupant of the stool, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

There were unconfirmed reports then that the Presidency moved to ensure that Sanusi did not emerge as the Emir.

During the Wednesday visit, Jonathan congratulated Sanusi on his installation and condoled with him and the people of the emirate on Bayero’s demise.

He told the traditional ruler that he was in his palace to formally introduce himself, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other PDP candidates in the election.

“I am here to seek your royal blessing and to reassure the people of Kano that the PDP is totally committed to developing the country,” he told the monarch.

In his response, Sanusi thanked Jonathan for the visit and expressed the hope that his campaign in the state would be hitch-free.

He stressed the need for all office seekers to go about their campaigns without violence.

“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 emerged as the winner.

He also advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts aimed at ensuring security in all parts of the country before, during and after the elections.

Sanusi prayed for the emergence of leaders that would move the country forward.

Speaking at the Polo Ground venue of the campaign rally in Kano, the President said that was why his administration was committed to producing young entrepreneurs.

He said, “We have said that in those days when they said Nigeria was at par with other countries, but those countries overtook us and left us behind. That will no longer be acceptable by this present leadership.”

The 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 a bigger Muslim than himself who observed all injunctions of Islam.

The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who is the North-West zonal coordinator of the PDP presidential campaign, told the gathering that the All Progressives Congress government of Kano State was a government of deceit.

Recalling the achievements of a former Kano governor and Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Lamido advised Kano people not give in to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s false pretences but to vote for all PDP candidates.

Ex-militants back Buhari, flay Jonathan

Former Head of State, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari

Some South-South ex-militant generals and commanders in Edo State on Wednesday announced their support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February 14 presidential poll, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ( retd.).

They also commended the leadership of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta for endorsing Buhari, insisting that the group’s (MEND’s) action should be treated with seriousness.

The ex-militants told journalists in Benin, the Edo State capital, that their position was in line with the expectations and hope of Nigerians for positive change and development, particularly, the development of the Niger Delta region.

The spokesperson for the group, Mr. Godwin Ogidigba, explained that the ex-agitators had implicit confidence in the ability of Buhari, whom he said, was capable of addressing the major challenges affecting various communities in the region, which were yet to be addressed by the present administration.

He said, “In recent publications in the dailies, you see MEND endorsing Buhari. People thought it was a joke. It is not. The fact remains that we need somebody that can address the salient issues that affect the Niger Delta region.

“Our brother has failed in those issues; our brother has failed to take us away from poverty, our brother has failed to bring development to the Niger Delta region.

“Just take a look at most of the Niger Delta communities. They still remain where they are, in spite of the fact that we have one of our own at the top, at the helm of affairs, nothing positive has changed in the region.”

Ogidigba argued that their choice of Buhari had nothing to do with religion or ethnicity but centred on their desire for unity in the country.

He noted that although the amnesty programme had brought some relief to youths in the region, some of the terms of the agreement had yet to be implemented.

Ogidigba said, “Somebody who can stand and develop our region, that should be our interest and that is our interest. It is true that President Goodluck Jonathan is from the South-South region; he is our brother. But the problem is this: he came to meet the amnesty programme and since then he has not been able to improve on it, which means that the amnesty programme stopped when the late (President) Musa Yar’Adua died.”