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Tribunal: Atiku Dares Buhari To Produce Certificate …Chides APC Over Cameroonian Citizenship Claim

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7 years ago

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for saying that his academic certificates were with the Nigerian Army.
Replying to Buhari’s response to their petition filed before the Election Petitions Tribunal, they said, if it was true that the certificates existed, Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces could order the Army to produce them.
Atiku said he attached his academic certificates to the Form CF001 he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a joint petition filed on March 18, the former Vice-President and his party urged the tribunal to declare them the authentic winner of the February 23 presidential election, insisting that Buhari did not possess the educational qualifications he claimed to have in his INEC Form CF001.
They said in the reply filed on April 15 by their legal team, led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), that having not been able to attach his academic certificates to INEC Form CF001, Buhari had falsely claimed that his certificates were in the custody of the Nigerian Army.
The joint reply filed by Atiku and the PDP read in part, “In further response to paragraph 381(iv) of the 2nd respondent’s reply, aver that the petitioners have no knowledge of any certificates or alleged qualifications issued to the 2nd respondent (Buhari), but contend that 2nd respondent falsely represented that his certificates are in the custody of the Nigerian Army when the 2nd respondent by his own admission is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“In further response to paragraph 381(iv) of the 2nd respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the 2nd respondent as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria could easily order the Army Secretary to produce the certificates allegedly submitted if they actually exist.
“Contrary to paragraph 381(i-iv) of the 2nd respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the 2nd respondent does not possess the educational qualification he claimed to have in his INEC Form CF001 submitted to the 1st respondent (INEC) having not been attached as required.”
The petitioners also stated that “the purported training and courses”, which Buhari claimed placed him “head and shoulders above” Atiku regarding educational qualifications to contest the presidential election, “did not culminate in the issuance of any certificates he claimed in his INEC Form CF001”.
They also described Buhari’s claim of being head and shoulders above Atiku as “erroneous”.
Responding to Buhari’s allegation that Atiku didn’t have the statutory educational qualifications to contest the polls, the petitioners stated that the ex-VP attached his educational qualifications to his Form CF001 submitted to INEC.
Insisting that Atiku was qualified to contest election for the office, the petitioners stated that Buhari was unable to present any certificates because he did not possess any “as he falsely claimed”.
They stated, “In reply to paragraph 383 of the 2nd respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the 1st petitioner (Atiku) is eminently qualified to contest election to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and had indeed attached evidence of his educational qualifications to his INEC Form CF001 submitted to the 1st respondent, unlike the 2nd respondent (Buhari) who did not attach evidence of the qualifications he claimed in his INEC Form CF001 because he does not possess them as he falsely claimed.”
INEC, Buhari, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) (Buhari’s party) are the 1st to the 3rd respondents to the petition.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the petition by the tribunal.
Meanwhile, a few weeks after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal to dismiss his suit challenging the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23 election, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has described the party as home to hypocrites who speak from both sides of the mouth.
The former Vice President flayed chieftains of the APC, arguing that rather than providing evidence to support Buhari’s supposed victory at the poll; they are busy chasing trivialities to hoodwink innocent Nigerians.
In a chat with newsmen, yesterday, spokesman of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council, Kassim Afegbua tasked the APC and its leaders to take a trip down memory lane to recall how they once described Atiku in superlative terms only to turn around to question his nationality because he challenged the outcome of the elections.
He said: “The APC is just a bunch of very hypocritical characters who are chasing shadow instead of substance, in an election they massively rigged to profit themselves. Rather than present their defence, they are busy running from pillar to post, diverting attention from the real issues concerning the election.
“At first, they said Atiku Abubakar was not a Nigerian. Again, they said we hacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) server. Later when they heard INEC disowned hacking, they now said no results existed in the server.
“They have been vacillating from one ridiculous theme to another, without addressing the critical issues of electoral fraud in defence of their dubious victory.”
He continued: “When Atiku Abubakar was donating money to them in the APC, they decorated him with golden ornaments; when he was providing logistics, they were all swarming around him, calling him the great Waziri.
“In fact, you need to go back and read all the eloquent tributes that were poured on him as a great Nigerian, but as soon as he opted to confront the APC in the 2019 elections, they started using the same mouths to denigrate him.
“Those who preached integrity suddenly joined the hypocritical chorus, sheer double standards and a character profiling that exposes the dubiety of those APC chieftains.
“Suddenly they remembered that Atiku is no longer a Nigerian, a former Vice President at that, a business tycoon whose productivity is not in doubt; a man who has impacted positively on thousands of Nigerians by way of employment.
“But we will not be distracted by their doublespeak. Nigerians know that Atiku Abubakar won the election and even the APC knows that in the hearts of Nigerians, they didn’t win the election, but we will shock them with further proofs at the tribunal.”
He took a swipe at the state of affairs in the nation, saying, “Just imagine the level of killings, kidnappings and banditry across the country. Even, the president’s home state of Katsina has been invaded by bandits and kidnappers.
“That has been the level of rot and insecurity, and you think Nigerians truly voted for such a decadent system under leadership that jets out of the country each time we are in serious trouble? No, it is not possible. Nigerians are very wise and very informed citizens. They could not have voted for such leadership that has impoverished them and plunged them into hunger and poverty, more hardship and deprivations in the past four years.”
Also speaking, Phrank Shaibu, also a spokesman to the former Vice President said those now questioning Atiku’s nationality are men lacking in honour who have no sense of shame.
He said: “Let me a place on record that Atiku’s case at the tribunal represents the moral imperative in a polity struggling to retrieve its conscience from the depravity of men who have no honour because they have no shame.
“We are proud to stand beside the good people of Nigeria in their struggle to assert the legitimacy of their mandate and the dignity of their votes.
“Atiku has used facts to prove that he won the election while the APC and Buhari are shouting that Atiku is not a Nigerian.
“One would have thought that the APC and it’s a candidate will be releasing new and or powerful evidence, to prove at the ongoing election petition tribunal that they clearly won the election without rigging.
“We are encouraged by the presence of the several fearless men and women of the bench in our present-day judiciary. We know that, sooner than later, those honourable and noble dispensers of justice in our present-day judiciary shall deliver a judgment that will be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power.”

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Don Lauds RSG, NECA On Job Fair

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6 hours ago

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January 26, 2026

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The National Coordinator of Embedded Ai -EU Erasmus Project in Nigeria, Prof. Bourdillon Omijeh, has commended the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Rivers State Government for their strategic partnership in organizing the Job Fair 2026.

The Job Fair with theme: “Addressing Youth Employability for Prosperity,” took place at Obi International Conference Center, Port Harcourt, last week.

Speaking as Special Guest, Professor Omijeh stated that result-oriented human capital development and trainings focused on relevant skills is the most effective solution to reducing the high rate of graduate unemployment in Rivers State.

He noted that Nigeria is firmly in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), driven by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and 5G.

According to him, these emerging technologies offer enormous employment and entrepreneurial opportunities across critical sectors, including agriculture, power, Telecommunication, oil and gas, healthcare, and security.

He emphasized the growing shift from job seeking to job creation, explaining that youths equipped with 4IR skills can become innovators, solution providers, and founders of startups and new industries.

Professor Omijeh further stated that Nigeria is richly endowed with talented youths capable of competing globally when properly empowered with the right skills, support, and enabling environment.

He called for sustained collaboration between government, the private sector, and educational institutions to build a future-ready workforce and drive inclusive economic growth in Rivers State.

To the over 4000 teeming youths present, Professor Omijeh said, according to Bill Gate, that “Being born poor is not a fault, but remaining poor in a world of opportunity and skills is a responsibility that must be consciously addressed.

“Don’t allow your current circumstances define your destiny. There’s a seed of greatness in you. Sieze any and every opportunity to develop yourself and acquire the requisite skills.

He passionately urged the Rivers State Government to intentionally invest and fund result-oriented training programmes through the strategic Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment and Ministry of Youth Development to increase employability and reduce the rate of graduate unemployment in Rivers State.

He thanked the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Honorable Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Chisom K. Gbali, for this laudable initiative with NECA.

Professor Bourdillon Omijeh is the National Coordinator of the Embedded Artificial Intelligence (EAI) -EU Erasmus Project in Nigeria; Immediate Past Director of Centre for Information and Telecommunication Engineering Uniport, NCC-Chair Occupant on ICT Uniport; TensorFlow four (4) times award winner on Capacity building on Ai & ML -(2021-2024), CEO-Bourdillon Omijeh Foundation.

As a Professional Mentor, he has facilitated the training of thousands of youths on 4IR- Skills with relevant certifications and evidential engagements.
Follow Prof Bourdillon Omijeh on LinkedIn.

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Explore Opportunities, Become Employers, Fubara Urges Rivers Youths

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4 days ago

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January 23, 2026

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has urged youths in the state to take advantage of the vast opportunities available to become employers of labour and contribute meaningfully to growth and development.

Fubara said global trends increasingly favour entrepreneurship and innovation, stressing that youths in Rivers State must not be left behind in harnessing such opportunities.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, the governor stated this while declaring open the 2026 Job Fair organised by the Rivers State Government in partnership with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Speaking on the theme, “Addressing Youth Employability for Prosperity,” the governor acknowledged the responsibility of government to create jobs for its teeming youth population but noted that it was unrealistic to absorb all job seekers into the civil service.

“As a government, we recognise our duty to provide employment opportunities for our teeming youths. However, we also understand that not all youths can be accommodated within the civil service.

“This underscores the need to encourage entrepreneurship across diverse sectors and to partner with other stakeholders, including the youths themselves, so they can transition from being job seekers to employers of labour,” he said.

Fubara further urged participants to continually sharpen their skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment and the global space through digital platforms.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and providing an enabling environment for youths to develop their potential and thrive.

In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr Chisom Gbali, said the job fair was designed to equip youths with contemporary skills, innovation and mentorship needed to transform them from unemployable to resourceful individuals.

Gbali disclosed that the ministry had rolled out various training and capacity-building programmes in areas such as ICT and artificial intelligence, oil and gas, maritime, and the blue economy.

Delivering the keynote address, the Head of the Department of Human Resources Management, Rivers State University, Dr Chris Biriowu, advised participants to remain informed about evolving sources of employability.

He said the labour market was dynamic and shaped by industry-specific demands, technological advancement, management practices and other emerging factors.

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King Jaja Impacted Beyond Rivers -Deputy Gov

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4 days ago

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January 23, 2026

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Rivers State Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, has poured accolades on late Amayanabo of Opobo, HRM Dandeson Douglas Jaja V, saying his footprints went beyond the State.

Speaking during a condolence visit to the wife of the late king, Prof. Odu said the late monarch contributed meaningfully beyond the shores of Rivers State.

“He contributed not only to Opobo, not only to Rivers State, but to Nigeria as a nation. We all know the various positions he held until his passing. For us as a Commission, we are really going to miss him greatly, especially at this time when his guidance was most needed,” she stressed.

She described the late king as a distinguished traditional ruler whose life and service contributed immensely to the development of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

The deputy governor, who also serves as Chairman of the Rivers State Boundary Commission, noted that until his demise, King Jaja was an Ex-Officio member of the Commission, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District.

According to her, the late monarch actively participated in several meetings of the Commission and played an important advisory role.

“He actually participated with us in a couple of meetings. It was with great shock that we received the news of his passing. We saw daddy as someone who was very strong, healthy and athletic,” Prof. Odu said.

Prof. Odu explained that the Commission relied heavily on the wisdom of traditional rulers like the late monarch to ensure that its responsibilities were carried out properly and conscientiously.

She assured the family of the Commission’s continued support, saying they will remain close to the family throughout the burial arrangements and beyond.

Addressing the widow, Queen Prudence Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Prof. Odu said the visit was to commiserate with her and encourage her during the period of mourning.

“Please accept our condolences. Please be strong and put your hope in God. The God who watches over widows will never abandon you,” the deputy governor prayed.

“We cannot question God. What has happened has happened. All we can do is to pull ourselves together. That is why we are here  to pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen you, that God will turn your sadness into joy and clothe you with a garment of beauty,” she added.

Responding, Queen Jaja described her late husband as a gentle, humble man who was deeply committed to the progress of Rivers State, and Nigeria at large.

She expressed gratitude to the deputy governor and other members of the Boundary Commission for identifying with the family in their moment of grief.

“We are praying that his soul will rest in perfect peace. I thank you very much for coming to console me at this trying moment. Seeing you here has given me comfort. God bless each and every one of you,” she said.

She also offered prayers for the delegation, wishing them a long life and good health.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation Letter of Condolence from the Rivers State Boundary Commission to Queen Jaja.

 

Kevin Nengia

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