Estimated reading time: 6 minute(s)
Oluwatobi Odeyinka
Social media handlers have started attacking the Spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign, Festus Keyamo SAN, over his comment that the West Africa Examination Certificate is not required to be President or governor.
Keyamo had made the comment on his twitter handle on Sunday, saying “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,”
Keyamo said this in reaction to the legal tussle trailing the Osun state governorship election where the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party was accused of forging his WAEC Certificate.
Keyamo said Adeleke did not need to “forge” his WAEC certificate to contest the office of a governor because WAEC certificate is not needed to contest the office of a governor in Nigeria.
“If you don’t have a WAEC certificate, there’s no need to go ahead & forge one in a bid to be Governor or President, you can still be qualified, regardless. That’s the mistake made in Osun Case Scenario.” Keyamo said.
Meanwhile, Nigerians who had begun to react on the comment of the Senior Advocate expressed disappointment and hurled opprobrious remarks on him.
Below are some of the reactions on twitter:
@ejiroufuoma1: “Lol I swear Festus gets on my last nerve. His mumuness is getting worst by the day”
@politicalGURUU: “This keyamo is a riffraff, after saying all sort of rubbish he will smile to the bank. He is paid to defend anything”
@Ogoobidile: “This man needs medical attention seriously”
@KultureLa: “So shall we continue to allow uneducated greedy unenlightened people govern us. This are some of the reasons why Nigeria isn’t moving forward. How can such law even be entrenched in the constitution?”
Keyamo justifies claim
In reaction to the condemnation of his comment by twitter users, Keyamo has justified his stand thus:
“Yes. 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. No WAEC certificate is needed.”
