
By allowing President Buhari run without proof of a certificate,it is not only promoting unconstitionality but criminality as well.The all too familiar video of the military debunking Buhari's claim to being in possession of his credentials in 2015 has resurfaced online over the last few days and if Buhari has sworn to an affidavit still maintaining his credentials are still with the military then we may very well be watching the man commit perjury; lying under oath which is a criminal offence going by our laws.It is not INEC's responsibility to write to WAEC or the nigerian military,it is the President who has to prove to it that he has fulfilled that criteria.If not in abidance with the law then at least in the interests of transparency and integrity.He may have successfully gotten away with it in the past but it doesn't make it right.As things stand,President Buhari is not eligible to contest the 2019 Presidential election.
Those claiming he is qualified by virtue of the wordings of Section 318 of the constitution which defines 'secondary school leaving certificate or its equivalent' need to look a bit more closely at the the definition.Sub-head(c) states that he must have a primary school leaving certificate in addition to serving in the public or private sector in any capacity acceptable to INEC for 10 years,attending courses in institutions acceptable to INEC and ability to read,write and communicate in english language to the satisfaction of INEC.
Does Buhari have proof of a primary school leaving certificate?.The man has said his credentials are with the Secretary of the military board which the military has denied.So it is illogical for one to pick any of the accompanying criterias to the possession of a primary school leaving certificate and hinge his eligibility on that.
Buhari is not the first ex-military President we have had.As a matter of fact,President Olusegun Obasanjo got into the army before him and he didn't tell nigerians he left his credentials there.In law we have a saying-'Nemo dat non quot habet' (You cannot give what you don't have).Nothing suggests President Buhari has a school leaving certificate to present and INEC must stop perpetuating illegality.
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