The Danger of Discrepancies

By Sani Adamu

Early in this Fourth Republic, Evan(s) Enwerem, a member if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was elected senator representing Imo East senatorial zone.

On June 3,1999, he was elected the first president of the Nigerian Senate. But, by November of the same year, Enwerem was removed from office.

Evan or Evans was accused of falsification of his name. This caused a controversy as to whether his real name was Evan or Evans. On November 18, 1999, Evan(s) Enwerem was removed as senate president but remained a member of the Senate until 2003.

Recently, when it became public knowledge that former minister of finance in the present administration, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun didn’t observe the mandatory one year National Youths Service Corps programme (NYSC), she didn’t wave the matter aside (the administration didn’t either) by arguing that her educational qualifications and experience (recall that she was a commissioner before her appointment as finance minister) more than made up for the one year NYSC scheme. She took the path of honour. She resigned her position and President Buhari received her resignation with gladness because her decision gave his anti- corruption crusade and administration a boost.

These two incidents are positive pointers that as a people, we believe that our public office holders should be above board. The reason for this is not far fetched. Every and any public office is held in trust for the people. When this trust is therefore breached, there should be consequences.

But recent developments seem to suggest otherwise.  Or how else can one interpret the judgement given by the 2019 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as it relates to Mr. President’s qualification.

According to the judgement delivered by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mohammed Garba, Buhari’s certificate from the Nigerian Military is higher than the Secondary school certificate stated as minimum academic requirement for the election by the constitution.

To that end, Buhari according to the judgement was ’eminently’ qualified to vie for the country’s topmost job.

True. But which comes first – the chicken or the eggs? How does work experience override or become replacement for educational qualifications?

As though to add salt to the injury, the tribunal further stated as irrelevant in the determination of the case the discrepancy in Buhari’s names on the school certificate as tendered by Atiku Abubakar. It stated thus: “Whether it’s Muhammad with a ‘U’ or Mohammed Buhari with an ‘O’, they all refer to and identify the second respondent.”. But this case is no different from the Evan or Evans Enwerem as recalled above.

What does the law say about discrepancies in documents particularly certificates? It is required that such documents be backed with sworn affidavit.

Although, Mr. President submitted an affidavit to the effect that ” all my academic qualifications (documents) as filled in the presidential election are currently with the Secretary Military Boards as at the time if this affidavit “, to which the Military authority has since debunked, there was no affidavit to support the discrepancy in the school certificate.

Falsification of results is an issue various examination bodies in the country are battling with and not making much of a head way. Besides, falsification is an offence under the law. So for such a sensitive matter to be so dismissed by the tribunal is not just unfortunate but a looming disaster waiting to happen very soon in the education sector.

It is therefore necessary that the Supreme court takes another look at this all important subject matter as the case makes its final journey to the apex court.

Mr. Adamu, a retired teacher wrote from Yola, Adamawa State.