Amidst a growing scandal involving the educational qualifications of Nigeria’s incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari and his eligibility to contest in the 2019 general elections, the Presidency has come out swinging hard as it berated the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for daring to challenge the President’s credentials.
According to the Presidency, the attempt by the PDP to challenge the authenticity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s West African School Certificate (WASC) in court is a disgrace as well as a diversionary attempt by the opposition to cover its history of short-comings.
According to Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity the action of the opposition PDP was a complete waste of time because Buhari’s records show that he has obtained higher qualifications through sheer hard work.
Consequently, Malam Garba released a statement which read;
“We have read that the failed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is going to court to challenge the President’s West African School Certificate (WASC).
This is a waste of time because we have the record of this and of higher qualifications obtained by hard work and truly merited by Mr. President.
This certificate story is an old one. As Femi Adesina stated clearly, it is a settled issue in the courts.
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To approach the court to pursue a matter long settled by the temple of justice is an abuse of the judicial system. It is shameful, disgusting and disgraceful.
It is clear to all at this time that the PDP, facing an imminent humiliating defeat wants to sow division and chaos by seeking the destruction of the institutional structures that support our young democracy.
They are attacking the courts and the police, they are molesting INEC commissioners. They are theatrical in spreading falsehoods against persons including the President.’’
In the usual manner, the special assistant went ahead to vilify the PDP accusing it of spreading falsehoods in order to take away public view from issues of importance gaining momentum in the country.
Still in character, Malam Garba said the PDP was drawing public attention from issues like internal security in order not to expose its 16 years of near zero investment in the area.