By Ahmed Idris
The Presidency on Monday reacted to plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari’s West African School Certificate (WASC) in court.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said attempts by the PDP to initiate fresh legal battle on a matter that was settled long time ago by a court of competent jurisdiction was “absolutely disgraceful.”
The statement reads: “We have read that the failed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is going to court to challenge the President’s West African School Certificate (WASC).
“This is a waste of time because we have the record of this and of higher qualifications obtained by hard work and truly merited by Mr President. This certificate story is an old one.
As Femi Adesina stated clearly, it is a settled issue in the courts. To approach the court to pursue a matter long settled by the temple of justice is an abuse of the judicial system. It is shameful, disgusting and disgraceful.
It is clear to all at this time that the PDP, facing an imminent humiliating defeat wants to sow division and chaos by seeking the destruction of the institutional structures that support our young democracy.
“They are attacking the courts and the police, they are molesting INEC commissioners. They are theatrical in spreading falsehoods against persons including the President.
“By doing these, they assume that they can take away attention from the discussions on issues gaining momentum in the country; the issue of internal security which has been jeopardized by years of near-zero investment under 16 years of the PDP; the provision of long-delayed infrastructure which the President is pioneering; corruption to which the PDP is incurably tied and the sustenance of the prevailing good days in the economy, a business-friendly government working day and night, creating more jobs and affordable life for the poor.”
The Presidency said the 2019 election “isn’t about the settled issues of certification” as PDP stalwarts are trying to portrait to the electorate, stressing that “no matter how honeyed their sweet words, don’t believe them.”
“Their evil record can never be washed away. The PDP set a record of murdering opponents of government and corruption on a scale never seen anywhere before.
They put the national security at stake by diverting huge budgetary allocations to service their greed. Don’t believe their honeyed promises,” the statement said.
