In the last 48 hours, a video where Lai Mohammed, minister of information, spoke about the secondary school certificate examination result of President Muhammadu Buhari has been trending on social media.
The controversy over Buhari’s certificate started in the buildup to the 2015 general election when supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then the ruling party, alleged that the president did not sit for the Cambridge West African Examination.
The party made this allegation after Buhari failed to submit his academic credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In an affidavit, the president had said his certificate was with the secretary of the military board.
Despite the heat generated by this, Buhari defeated ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in the election.
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As the 2019 elections closed in, the issue of critics of the president’s certificate became a topic of debate between his critics and supporters but this did not stop Buhari from securing another term.
He defeated Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP, who is challenging the election result at the tribunal. Ahead of the tribunal’s verdict, the issue of the certificate is making the rounds again.
In a video currently circulating on social media, Mohammed was heard asking Nigerians to pardon Buhari over senior secondary school certificate.
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“It’s been 53 years after a fellow left secondary school; 53 years. I think we should pardon him if he does not know where he kept his certificate,” the minister said.
The video:
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While it is true that Mohammed made the comment when he appeared on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, the impression being given that it’s recent is misleading.
The minister made the comment as far back as 2015.
Meanwhile, here are some reactions from those who thought Mohammed’s comment is fresh:
I watched a video clip of @channelstv interview of the Minister of Information, asking Nigerians to forgive the @NGRPresident @MBuhari for losing his school certificate. Not sure what that’s about. Can someone please explain what the request for forgiveness is meant to achieve?
Advertisement— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 7, 2019
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Buhari’s Principal begged the army to admit him without credentials. Lai Mohammad is begging that we forgive and forget about his credentials. His lawyers also begged PEPT that they should not disgrace him for not having WAEC.#SackBuhari we don’t want a bambiala President
— Busolami (@TaiwoBusolami) September 7, 2019
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Lai Mohammed has asked us to pardon Buhari for misplacing his certificate. Has he showed remorse? But even at that why should we pardon him for something WAEC said does not exist. More than enough reason to #SackBuhari. pic.twitter.com/xFzP6rQZRo
Advertisement— Paul Ibe (@omonlakiki) September 6, 2019
Dear PDP, the video of Lai Mohammed asking Nigerians to forgive Buhari for his inability to provide his WAEC certificate is a weapon. Use it!!
Use the damn video in a way a sensible opposition is expected to. PETP members are here on social media.
— Henry Shield (@henryshield) September 6, 2019
Lai Mohammed said we should ‘pardon’ Buhari for losing his WAEC certificate (which can be easily retrieved if he truly had them) becos 53 yrs is a long time to keep such documents.
This means that all 70 & 80yr Olds that still have their Birth Certificates are witches & wizards?— Mr Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) September 6, 2019
Lai Mohammed Begs Nigerians & presidential election petition tribunal panel, please forgive Buhari he doesn’t know where he kept his certificate.
Unfortunately, he exposes @MBuhari to the world, that he had no certificate, or let him seek certified copy.
pic.twitter.com/nhd0cNIlDC— Nkiruka Nistoran (@NkirukaNistoran) September 6, 2019
I have seen the video by Lai Mohammed where he says Nigerians should forgive Buhari for not showing his certificate because he must have lost it
1. That is not what the man himself says
2. It is intended to prejudice the PEPT.
3. Now the PEPT must do justice to Nigerians.
— ?? (@solomonapenja) September 6, 2019
I know how I suffered to get all my certificates intact in order to receive confirmation when I worked in a Bank.
Someone is now saying we should pardon Buhari -Nigeria’s President for throwing away his WAEC certificate (which he never had).
Oga Lai, Thunder Fire U.#SackBuhari— Mr Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) September 6, 2019
I know how I suffered to get all my certificates intact in order to receive confirmation when I worked in a Bank.
Someone is now saying we should pardon Buhari -Nigeria’s President for throwing away his WAEC certificate (which he never had).
Oga Lai, Thunder Fire U.#SackBuhari— Mr Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) September 6, 2019
Lai Mohammed: “We should forgive the President for forgetting where he kept his certificate.”
Army: “Buhari’s certificate is not with us.”
WAEC: “What Buhari & Abba Kyari presented at PEPT is not a certificate from us.”Me: PEPT, should I tell you what to say?#SackBuhariNow
— Revolutionary Popsyno™ ?? (@Popsyno) September 7, 2019
“53 years after General @MBuhari left secondary, I think we should pardon him. He does not even know where he has kept his certificate”-Lai Mohammed
See, if this country wasn’t a joke, as it were, the likes of Buhari shouldn’t be a councillor#BuhariShowNigeriaYourCertificate pic.twitter.com/rfZcoS4690
— Newton Ikire (@NewtonIkire) September 6, 2019
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