By FESTUS KEYAMO UNDER FIRE FOR STATEMENT ON WAEC CERTIFICATE
It is certainly not the best of times for the director strategic communications of President Muhammadu Buhari, 2019 presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who is currently under fire from commentators on social media for his statement earlier today that one does not need a WAEC certificate to become President in Nigeria.
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Since the statement that was reported by major media outfits in the country over an our ago went viral, the seasoned lawyer has been greatly criticized and alleged for dragging the country’s image in the mud while disregarding the reasons put forward to support his argument.
In his supporting arguments, Keyamo explained that Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines “School Certificate or its equivalent” to mean primary 6 School Leaving Certificate plus the ability to just speak, write, understand and communicate in English language to the satisfaction of INEC. He reiterated that no WAEC certificate is needed.
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According to him, if you have occupied the public office for a reasonable length of time, by the provisions of the constitution, you do not even need a WAEC certificate to become President of Nigeria.
His words, “By the definition of “School Certificate or its equivalent” in section 318 of the 1999 constitution, you don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office you will be disqualified.
“Forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity. WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed. In #OsunCaseScenario WAEC has denied the authenticity. See the difference?
In reaction to the statement currently making the rounds, Reno Omokri, a Special Assistant to former President, Goodluck Jonathan took a swipe on the Senior Advocate of Nigeria while questioning the moral justification behind such revelation.
BlackBox Nigeria brings you below some of the reaction of Nigerians that is currently making the trend on social media some of which has it that the statement is coming as an admission of guilt that the President did not seat for the examination.
.@OfficialAPCNg took Senator Adeleke to Court, alleging that he had no certificate, now a shameless Festus (Stephanie Otobo) @FKeyamo is arguing that @MBuhari DOES NOT need a WAEC certificate to be President. It's like saying you need a certificate to be gateman but not to be MD!
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 15, 2019
Chai…So Buhari doesn't have WAEC true true?
No wonder why his Government has turned many Nigerian Professors into Okpos. https://t.co/tAKxVtvUw2— Prof Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) April 15, 2019
We told you our President doesn’t have WAEC, you people said we were being mischievous, well Festus Keyamo don confirm am now. https://t.co/ZoaYgG7xxs
— Olúyẹmí Fásípè AICMC (@YemieFash) April 15, 2019
Many people who looked up to you feel so disappointed. You are proud to support a man who cannot even afford a WAEC certificate to contest for an election. I am sure you won't employ anyone with only WAEC certificate at your chambers.
— Iho Terence Terna (@IhoTerence) April 15, 2019
How can someone who voted for @MBuhari question my intelligence? You are poor and uneducated and want to improve. Yet you vote for a man who can't increase the number of his cattle. You vote for a man who claims 'You Dont Need WAEC to be President'. And it is me you call stupid?
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 15, 2019
I really like this Festus of a guy; he tells the truth when you least expected it👍 He has just confessed ironically that PMB doesn’t have a WAEC certificate 🤣🤣🤣 But I think he is dumb to have sold out his boss so cheaply for something he has defended for 5yrs with many SANs😎
— kotchi 👌🏻 (@kotchiforlive) April 14, 2019
That's where the problem of this country starts from (#ourconstitution) how will an individual occupy a public office without a WAEC in the first place, that means the person is not even educated. So that's why the political class doesn't have any plan to develop our education
— Adeolu Himself (@AdeoluAdisa) April 14, 2019
