By Hamza Idris & Ozibo Ozibo, Andrew Agbese, Romoke W. Ahmad & Kabiru A. Anwar


The muddy waters of power has already made casualty of some politicians as politics, law and morality come to play ahead of the 2019 elections over the issue of academic and other qualifications with many politicians who have tasted the sweetness of office having sleepless nights to remain in the corridors of power amidst resistance by their opponents and ‘whistle blowers’.

The recent publication of particulars of candidates for various offices by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed a kind of “humility” by many aspirants who simply showcased the minimum academic qualifications required by law which is their secondary school results in order to shut out those trying to undermine them.

Findings by Daily Trust revealed that this is unlike what obtained in previous elections when aspirants looked for additional papers to fill in all sorts of certificates in the CF001 as required by INEC in line with Section 31 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), which mandated the electoral empire to publish particulars of all candidates for public scrutiny.

Shortly after the latest publication by INEC, the debate on certificates, rather than issues relating to development, took the centre stage of political discuss.


President Buhari

On November 2, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) issued an “attestation certificate” to President Muhammadu Buhari after much furore.

Before the presentation, Buhari had been severely criticised by opposition politicians and activists soon after they scrutinized his particulars and discovered that he said his school certificate was still with the military authorities.

To a certain extent, the announcement by spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a tweet from his verified handle that WAEC presented an attestation certificate and confirmation of school certificate result to President Buhari “softly” laid to rest, the debate over the matter though some people are still asking WAEC to indicate the exam number of the president, and even questioning the photograph used in the document.

Buhari was actually in the eye of the storm despite the fact that there are over 70 presidential aspirants in the race who have all showcased various kinds of certificates.

“What will the naysayers say next?” Adesina queried.

Buhari had experienced similar criticism ahead of the 2015 general elections when he was an opposition presidential candidate.


Bindow’s WAEC controversy

The certificate controversy surrounding the candidacy of Adamawa State governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, came to public knowledge when the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court ordered an accelerated hearing of a case of certificate forgery filed by a non-governmental group, Incorporated Trustees of Global Integrity Crusade Network, against the governor.

There are fears that unless Governor Bindow escapes miraculously, he might likely be replaced by the APC ahead of next year’s election to avoid losing the governorship seat to the opposition if the court establishes that he actually forged the result he is claiming.

It is alleged that the governor who attended Government Secondary School Miango in Plateau State, did not sit for the final secondary school examination conducted by WAEC and therefore submitted a fake result to INEC in 2015 before he became governor.

Those who took him to court had already obtained and published a result with the serial number the governor is claiming but a different name. Ruling on the application for a motion experte brought before him on October 22, Justice B.O. Quadri granted the prayers of the plaintiff for accelerated hearing as well as leave to serve the originating summons on Governor Jibrilla and WAEC at their respective addresses in Adamawa and Lagos.

Those joined as defendants are WAEC, INEC, APC and the Nigeria Police.

Back in Yola, an APC youth group loyal to Nuhu Ribadu, the Black Cap Revolution, staged a public protest to the state House of Assembly, demanding a probe of the governor over the alleged certificate scandal.

The group leader, Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, urged the legislators to investigate the forgery allegations against the state’s chief executive to ascertain the truth and do justice to all parties involved.

“We are not saying the governor is guilty, we are simply demanding an investigation into the matter. We’re law abiding citizens who nurture transparency, integrity and good governance. There is an allegation against our governor that the certificate he presented which earned him the leadership is a syndicated forgery, which is synonymous with corruption,” Mustapha said.

“We want Governor Bindow to come out clean and clear. We want him to appear before the state lawmakers to defend the allegation.

“However, should the allegation hold water, Bindow should honourably resign in addition to withdrawing from the 2019 gubernatorial race and face legal case, lest our state be reduced to the republic of certificate forgery forever,” he said. Receiving a letter from the group, the Clerk of the Assembly, Francis Ngangso promised to deliver it to the House leadership for consideration.

However, the Speaker of the House, Kabiru Mijinyawa, dismissed the demand at a plenary, saying the House could not investigate a matter that was already before a court of law.

Meanwhile, an aggrieved APC governorship aspirant, Mahmud Halilu who is younger brother to the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, has threatened to drag Jibrilla to court for using a fake WAEC certificate.

Besides the court threats, the controversy became more interesting when INEC released names and credentials of 28 governorship aspirants in the state as voters and critics discovered that Jibrilla who emerged the APC candidate attached a school testimonial to his nomination form rather than a WAEC certificate.

The inclusion of “a mere testimonial” seems to have confused some of his supporters and emboldened his critics while curious voters were seen snapping the document with their handsets and flipping through other papers attached to the form.

Efforts to see what Jibrilla presented to INEC ahead of 2015 were not successful. Before he became governor, Jibrilla had served as senator and it is only what happens in the coming days in the court that will unravel the mystery behind his credentials.


Ashiru’s certificate case and Kaduna PDP

There have been reports since Alhaji Isa Ashiru emerged the governorship flag bearer of the PDP in Kaduna State, that there are issues with his credentials.

It has remained one of the issues his media team had to battle with it for weeks but just as the matter was about to die down, a major stakeholder in the party, Dr. Muhammad Sani-Bello, brought it up.

Dr. Bello, one of the PDP governorship aspirants who later withdrew from the race to support Ashiru, made the observation about discrepancies in the educational qualification of Ashiru formal by publicly making it an issue in the factors that made him resign from the PDP.

While announcing his decision to quit the PDP, Dr. Bello said he was not comfortable working with Ashiru as his academic credentials were allegedly under question.

He said, “Based on my findings, the documentation of the candidate contains certain flaws which remain unexplained,” but made no effort to explain further.

Checks by our correspondent at the INEC office in Kaduna showed that Ashiru attached photocopies of all the educational qualifications to his form to substantiate his claim of attending various schools from primary to university.

Ashiru in the form said he attended LEA Primary School Kudan, Kufena College in Zaria, Katsina Polytechnic, Kaduna Polytechnic and Bayero University, Kano from where he obtained the LEA Primary Certificate, the General Certificate of Education, June 1980, National Diploma Business Administration, 1985; Higher National Diploma Business Administration 1989; Post Graduate Diploma, Marketing, 1999 and Masters in Public Administration, 2002.

The PDP candidate who said he was born on October 23, 1962, said he completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Borno State in 1990.

Ashiru explained that there are no discrepancies in his credentials and that his certificates which he presented to INEC for the forthcoming election are all genuine and complete.

He described the allegation as a manifestation of the desperation of the APC to create doubt and confusion in the minds of the people of Kaduna State about him.

The PDP candidate had contested and won elections four times in the past as he was a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015.

Since Dr. Sani has left the PDP, our correspondent learnt that no formal complaint has been sent to the party to interrogate the issue further.

There are indications however that one of the aspirants who contested the primary with Ashiru is trying to take up the matter with the party so that the ticket of the party would be handed to him.

PDP leaders in the state say the matter is not an issue as they are sure that Ashiru’s papers are genuine but the APC, our correspondent learnt, is highly interested in the matter and is trying to establish the discrepancy as a counter-strategy in the scheme towards dislodging the PDP at the polls.


Atunwa’s problem in Kwara

There are allegations that the governorship candidate of the PDP in Kwara State, Razak Atunwa, did not participate in the NYSC programme.

Atunwa was alleged to have sourced a forged NYSC discharge certificate which he submitted to the PDP to prove his eligibility for the office of governor.

In his previous contest, it was gathered that nobody knew what he presented since the issue of certificate was not as serious as it is today, but Atunwa is said to be a graduate of Law.

For this election, it was learnt that Atunwa submitted a secondary school certificate.

The development has generated a lot of disquiet in the state and among members of the party, with insinuations that if fully established, he might likely be replaced by Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the erstwhile national publicity secretary of the APC who recently followed Senate President Bukola Saraki to the PDP.

Sources within the party say things have really “fallen apart” and the “centre can no longer hold.”

It was rumoured that one of the PDP aspirants during the primary election who is close to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, blew the whistle about the fake NYSC certificate.

Findings revealed that Atunwa remains the preferred choice of Bukola Saraki even though other forces within the party want someone else.

It was gathered that the aspirant who blew the whistle believes that if Atunwa is eventually dropped as the PDP candidate, he might get the ticket but surprisingly, Atunwa’s name appeared in the INEC list as the PDP candidate for the next year’s election.

Meanwhile, Atunwa while reacting, said, “I did not submit any unsupported NYSC certificate as suggested by you.

“I strongly advise that you verify each and every assertion you wish to make. You may wish to make formal enquiries/verifications of all institutions concerned.

“You should also be circumspect enough to authenticate the provenance of any document you may be handed if it’s not from a formal and official source.”

Atunwa may survive the heavy wind because of the support he enjoys from Saraki who is the political leader in the state and considering that he only submitted his secondary school certificate.

But, in the event he must be replaced, many feel the ticket might be given to somebody from Kwara North, including Zakari Muhammed, Aliyu Ahman – Pategi and Shaaba Lafiagi, while others feel Malam Bolaji Abdullahi might still be the lucky man.


Adebayo Shittu screened out

The Minster of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu could not also actualize his dream of becoming governor in Kwara State after he was screened out by the APC over his failure to participate in the NYSC.

Shittu, a SAN who has already gone to court to seek interpretation, said he believed serving as a member of the House of Assembly soon after graduating from the Law School was enough replacement for the NYSC programme.


What the Constitution says

Section 131 of the 1999 Constitution sets out that a person can vie for the office of president of Nigeria if he has certain qualifications and with the exception of age, the qualifications are similar to other offices such as governor, member of the national or state assembly.

The requirements include being a citizen of Nigeria and attaining the required age, being a member of a political party and sponsored by that political party, and must have been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent.

Section 318 (1) of the Constitution defines what school certificate or its equivalent to mean a secondary school certificate or its equivalent, Grade II Teacher’s Certificate, City and Guilds Certificate; or Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and service in the public or private sector in the federation in any capacity acceptable to INEC for a minimum of 10 years, and attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to INEC for periods totaling up to a minimum of one year, and the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC and any other qualification acceptable to INEC.


A lawyer speaks

An Abuja-based lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Agbo Madaki, says there are reasons why many politicians are desperate to forge their way into public office, despite the fact that the basic requirements are not difficult to come by. “Mind you, the law did not say you must have a degree or HND. But the truth is that ours is a culture of flaunting what we don’t have. Unfortunately, that has become part of our culture such that you find people who don’t possess some of these higher certificates and the tendency is for them to forge so that people now regard them as having what ordinarily they don’t have. I think low self-esteem is part of the problem here,” he said.

“And that is also possible because people have been forging successfully in this country. That is not to say that the law is weak because forgery is a criminal offence in Nigeria and punishable by both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code.

“However, the problem here is that of selective application of justice. Simply because most of the people involved are the elite or people of high means, in other words, the rich and famous, they often escape without prosecution,” he said.

“Law enforcement in Nigeria is weak and porous. Why the offenders escape is because the law enforcement mechanism in Nigeria is weak. I believe the Nigeria Police, by virtue of their training, have the capacity not only to investigate but also to prosecute, especially going by the Supreme Court decision recently. They should ensure that the offenders are apprehended and prosecuted,” he said.

@stelladimokokorkus hmmmm…. I like it when you keep your cool….. E be like say she really vex you this time….When you have a heart of stone only God can deliver you #Istandwithstella #thedevillivesinlinda

*Celine Centino, from Zurich, Switzerland, has forked out £38k on surgery
*The former hairdresser says being bullied at school made her change looks
*She had three breast enhancements along with cheek, lip and chin fillers
*She says men 'go crazy' for her appearance and has huge Instagram following

A 24-year-old woman who was viciously bullied as a teenager is unrecognisable after spending a staggering £38,000 on plastic surgery.

Celine Centino, from Zurich, Switzerland, has forked out for major cosmetic procedures including no less than three breast enhancements, taking her up to a size 34FF.

The Instagram star says she was taunted over her looks during her teenage years and was labelled 'ugly', with the teasing so severe that she would sometimes call in sick to avoid facing her bullies.

Her insecurity led to her to save cash from her job as a hairdresser to pay for plastic surgery which she claims has helped her finally feel happy in her own skin.

Over the course four years from September 2013, Celine underwent three breast augmentations along with a nose job and cheek, lip and chin fillers that totalled an eye-watering £38,000 (50,000 Swiss Francs).

After boosting her bust from a 34A to a 34FF, Celine claims she now feels confident and happier than ever.

With over 43,000 followers on Instagram, she is is inundated with positive comments from strangers about her unusual look.

'I was always a happy person, but I didn't feel good in my skin. So many people judged me because I was 'ugly', and I turned into a sad person,' Celine said.

'I wanted to be happy again, so I changed my look and everything I didn't like about myself. We live in a time when we can change something if we like it, so I took this chance.

'I was bullied daily, and it was always about something new, either I looked like a guy because I had "no boobs", or my a** was too fat (although now I like that).

ON NOVEMBER 17, 2018

Despite last Saturday’s statement by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that his encounter with the Department of State Security Services, DSS, was not an arrest as being speculated, Saturday Vanguard learned that the forces against him were unfazed in the resolve to achieve preconceived objectives.

Already, exclusive reports by some influential online platforms had indicated that the DSS in its report to the Presidency, recommended the prosecution of Oshiomhole over its alleged findings.

Saturday Vanguard could not confirm the veracity of the existence of the report from the DSS and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, but top party sources said there was nothing like that.

They, however, said the protest against the Chairman at the office of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the said DSS report were part of the efforts of those opposed to Oshiomhole at achieving their aim.

One of the sources said the ultimate objective was to co-opt President Muhamadu Buhari in the anti-Oshiomhole camp.

He said it would be difficult to get the President’s support for the move, adding that those against Oshiomhole had since lost the President’s support for failing to accept the solutions he (Buhari) proffered as the leader of the APC.

In fact, he told Saturday Vanguard that there was a day the President asked one of the aggrieved governors, who was visiting him at the time, to speak to Oshiomhole on the phone in his presence so they could resolve the matter.

He added that instead of having the peace talk President Buhari suggested, the governor started insulting Oshiomhole on the phone, using unprintable words.

This scene which happened in the presence of the President, was said to have lasted more than 30 minutes.

The scenario was said to have convinced the President that the aggrieved governor and others were being driven by self-interest.

The source, who was even privy to the conversation Oshiomhole had with the DSS, said top party members and political office holders, have resolved to defend the chairman.

He noted that this support played out when Oshiomhole honoured the DSS invitation, adding that the party chieftains and public office holders immediately mobilised in solidarity, threatening to defend the national chairman at all costs.

Sources privy to the event told Saturday Vanguard that the party members, who were taken unaware immediately mobilised to Oshiomhole’s Abuja residence when they got wind of the matter.

Prominent among those, who immediately responded to the situation was a top presidency official in charge of the administrative workings of the government, a serving governor, and minister among others.

The scandalized officials were said to have threatened that should the interrogation continue, they would not mind if their defence of Oshiomhole’s integrity led to the implosion of APC.

However, Saturday Vanguard further learned that contrary to insinuations that President Buhari had prior knowledge of the operation, the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were called when it had ended.

The duo were said to have been rattled that such treatment was meted to the party’s National Chairman.

The incident, one of the sources said, was hatched by some top political office holders, who seem to have influence over some officials of the institution that was used.

The aim was to intimidate Oshiomhole into signing a resignation letter which would be presented to the public.

To achieve this, he was presented with a series of allegations of financial impropriety allegedly made against him.


Money from Lagos State governor

The allegations included the collection of money from Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; senators; Kano State aspirants; Zamfara State aspirants and Imo State APC members among others.

These accusations, which the source described as cheap, were brought before Oshiomhole, who was said to have punctured them with superior and logical responses.

Saturday Vanguard learned that Oshiomhole, who saw the claims as laughable and pedestrian, told them that it was illogical to suggest that he collected money from Ambode when the outcome of the primaries in Lagos was not even being challenged by the governor.

On the allegation of collecting money from senatorial aspirants, it was learned that the APC chairman considered it a cheap one since he did not succumb to the pressure of being financially induced by those seeking higher offices.


APC primaries in Kano

In fact, the source said the allegation implied that those behind the matter could go to any length in their bid to oust the National Chairman.

The source, who said Oshiomhole’s response to the questions exposed the intelligence level of those, who made the allegations, said questioning him over APC primaries in Kano was needless.

His reason was that Oshiomhole gave the party a new lease of life in Kano with the return of a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau to APC after Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s defection.

Explaining further, the source said: “What happened was the handiwork of a few people, who used the influence they think they have to intimidate the chairman. They wanted him to resign his position as the National Chairman to pave the way for their selfish interest. They invited Comrade and he honoured the invitation as a law-abiding citizen. He was taken aback when they started asking him questions about issues that didn’t exist.

“Even the President was not aware of it as some people claimed.

"The President and the Vice President were informed about the incident on phone and they were very angry because it is obvious that some people who are not comfortable with comrade’s resolve to ensure that candidates were not imposed on the party are ready to make the party implode.

"They asked him questions regarding Kano State, Imo State, and Zamfara State among others. The funny aspect is that they said he collected money from Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode.

"That was just a petty lie because the outcome of the Lagos primary was not a subject of controversy and Ambode did not even kick against the emergence of the winner.

"In addition to that, they said he collected money from senators. That is absolute nonsense because Comrade is a former governor, who has attained the peak in public office.

"How could he have collected money from a senator, who collects about N13 million monthly? The allegations against him lacked substance.


Governors, ministers

“The morning after the incident some governors, ministers and other top functionaries visited his house and were threatening to defend comrade, adding that they didn’t care if the party experienced an implosion. That scene is better imagined.

"Of course, their reaction was expected because the incident was on the heels of threats by an aggrieved governor that comrade would be forced out of office.

"The call by the opposition that the Interpol should arrest comrade was unnecessary because he committed no crime to have warranted such.

"It even showed that the main opposition party in this country does not engage in constructive criticisms.

"If the incident had happened to the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus they would have described it as an abuse of power.

"Since Comrade is the victim, it does not amount to an abuse of power anymore. That is the kind of destructive politics people play in Nigeria. It should be on record that nobody would be allowed to bend the rules of the APC.

"Even Comrade and President Buhari do not have that power to subvert the will of the people. Oshiomhole’s position on the matter is simple. He stands for the rule of law not imposition of candidates.

"That is the reason he refused to succumb to all attempts at making him allow illegality in states where arrangements have been concluded to impose candidates on the people.”

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central district at the National Assembly has described the promise to sell off part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as a dangerous proposal.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku had in an interview during the week vowed to sell off 90% of the corporation.

The former Vice-President, said the NNPC was supposed to have become more profitable by now, adding that he will retain only 10%.

But reacting, Senator Sani tweeted on Saturday morning, “Selling 90% of the NNPC as a campaign promise is being brutally frank and honest.

“But its a condemnable proposal and a dangerous intention.

“Auctioning the country has not helped in the past and will not help in the future.”

Smarting from the fallout of last primaries, Cross River Governor Ben Ayade, has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a party that is unfair with no conscience.

Ayade, who was bitter over the disqualification of his friend, Mr. Chris Agara from the Cross River Central senatorial primaries by the PDP opened up on the primaries for the first time at a recent launch of the State Microfinance Bank in Calabar.

Ayade said: “I have spent more money than any other candidate in the state. PDP is a party that is so unfair and has got no conscience. A man came ready for election and you take out his name from the ballot paper.

“You take out his name because you know he is too powerful. When people use God’s given opportunities to do injustice, injustice would wait for them. So for my brother, I asked you to be strong and abide in the faith of God, because it is God’s will. But for those who the devil has used to stop the instrumentality, challenge and direction of God at the fullness of time, Holy Ghost would visit them with their own mighty fire”.

Ayade who was excited that Agara did not defect to another despite pressure said, “let us shame the devil. Let us shame the enemies. Let us shame all those who thought that they can put a fight between two brothers. We have conquered. We are the richest Cross Riverians in the oil and gas industry.

Our politics has no business with our brotherhood. My brother you are welcome.

“This is a brother indeed. He is the only brother that can also give his right eye to protect me. It is my brother that even in pains, with all enemies gathered in his house. Instead of me to hurt my brother, I would rather not be in politics. This is politics with ethics.

“This is true brotherhood. My brother who has said, he would rather forget politics and stand by his brother. But you will be shocked that people we have literally helped in the days of their poverty, they connived to conspire and carry rumours and stories to destroy brotherhood of over 30 years.”

The reason why I didn’t pick up the senatorial ticket is very simple. I have been active politically since my secondary school days.

I simply want to rest #OgbeniTillDayBreak