Academic quagmire in the Nigerian Polity

As the Nigerian general elections draws near, multiple skeletal disclosures have begun to emerge including that of the basic academic qualifications of the presidential candidates. Nigeria’s military recently stepped into a political row about the legitimacy of the main opposition candidate’s run for the presidency, in a fresh twist to an issue gripping the campaign. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised doubts about whether President Goodluck Jonathan’s main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, obtained his school-leaving qualification. Under Nigerian law presidential candidates must have the certificate as a minimum requirement to run for office.

Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari

Meanwhile, recent unconfirmed reports state that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo claims that President Goodluck Jonathan did not complete his doctorate. He stated; “Even Jonathan did not finish his PhD course but when it was presented we stated that, it does not matter but many people do not know because it was PDP thing.”

President-Goodluck-Ebele-Jonathan

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Olusegun Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

The former President said the truth of the matter is that Jonathan is aware that Buhari is qualified to contest for President election but that “some hawks with Jonathan do not want him to contest because they believed that he will win and come for them. “The issue (of Buhari’s certificate) came up in 2007, and we investigated and found out that his WASEC is with the military and that was why he was allowed to contest in 2007. Buhari cannot listen to anyone about his certificates because as a General of Nigeria Army, he will speak when he chooses, not by Femi Fani Kayode and Okupe asking him.

Source: Africanspotlight, AFP


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