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Buhari’s Failure To Tender Certificates Shows He Failed Through School -S’West PDP
Mixed reactions, have continued to trail the controversy surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari’s missing certificates.
While the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West, yesterday said that President Buhari’s failure to tender his certificates to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for screening showed he failed through school, a pro-Buhari group, Re-Elect Buhari Movement, dismissed the PDP’s outburst that followed the submission of an affidavit in place of certificates.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), in a statement by Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ayo Fadaka said his action “stylishly attests to the fact that he failed through school.”
The statement reads: “We are however inclined to believe that he never made a success out of studying, therefore was a very bad student.
“We give due to the notice of the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has again failed to tender his certificates to INEC for screening.
“This is on the heels of the fact that all other presidential candidates have submitted their credentials to INEC. “We also recall that in 2014, President Buhari gave this same excuse when he failed to tender his certificates, then he was an opposition candidate.
“We, however, believe that since he is now President and Commander-in-Chief, he is in a position to order the Army to release his certificates to him, more so, many decades after he retired from the Army.
“The persistent failure of Buhari to avail Nigerians of his educational credentials is indeed a source of worry, while we readily agree that he went through formal education, we are however inclined to believe that he never made a success out of studying, therefore was a very bad student.”
Group dismisses PDP’s stance on Buhari Faulting the PDP, a pro-Buhari group, Re-Elect Buhari Movement, dismissed the outrage that followed the submission of an affidavit in place of certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by President Buhari to pursue his second term ambition by the PDP.
In a statement, RBM convener, Mr. Emmanuel Umohinyang said there was nothing strange in the action as the president did same in 2015. Umohinyang said: “The PDP reminds one of the stories of Saul in the Bible.
The PDP are always quick to make allegations that are meaningless in the eyes of the ordinary man on the street. “President Buhari in 2015 had also made the same affidavit to INEC where he said then that his certificates are with the Secretary of the military board. “I do not think anything has changed because it is the same affidavit that the President has equally submitted this time.
“It is elementary that when something is in the public domain, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the people have a right, if they are so concerned to write to the appropriate authority to demand that they furnish them with such information, and the PDP is part and parcel of it.
For falsehood, you need a lot of lies to cover one lie. “So, I do not think the President sending an affidavit to INEC instead of a certificate should be an issue.
“Swearing to an affidavit with false motives is perjury. You should know the President would not have brought himself so low to achieve any objective, no matter how huge.”
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
