Katsina APC Guber: Masari and his unending travail

Masari got 2470 out of the total 5266 to defeat eight other aspirants namely Abubakar Samaila, Senator Abubakar  Sadiq Yar’adua, Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Arch Ahmed Kabir, Dr Usman Bugaje, Senator Kanti Bello, Sada Ilu and former Deputy Governor Abdullahi Aminci.His opponents feel he owed his victory to his perceived closeness to the party’s presidential candidate Gen […]

Masari got 2470 out of the total 5266 to defeat eight other aspirants namely Abubakar Samaila, Senator Abubakar  Sadiq Yar’adua, Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Arch Ahmed Kabir, Dr Usman Bugaje, Senator Kanti Bello, Sada Ilu and former Deputy Governor Abdullahi Aminci.
His opponents feel he owed his victory to his perceived closeness to the party’s presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari since their days in the then CPC.
It is largely believed that his firm control of the party executives gave him an edge in the primaries.
Even though Masari has extended a hand of friendship to those he defeated only Abdulaziz Yar’adua accepted his overtures. Although Masari said  three of the aspirants had congratulated him over the victory at the primaries.
Abdulaziz was the only aspirant that stayed the night until the result was declared and openly told newsmen that Masari’s victory should be celebrated by all as God gives power to those he wishes.
 He pleaded with the others to come together and work for the party’s victory in the election. While congratulating Masari, Yar’adua assured him of his total support. Another aspirant Architect Ahmed Kabir said other aspirants should rally round Masari for the gubernatorial polls. He assured supporters that he will not defect to another party as he has resolved to remain in the party to dislodge the PDP.
However, Senator Kanti Bello, who came second in the primaries and Masari’s main political rival, said it is only natural to be disappointed over the outcome of the primaries. But he was quick to add that he was not aggrieved. He said delegates had the chance to elect a better candidate but they failed to do so. Bello said he would remain with the APC and work for the success of the party.  
However, some of the aspirants are raising fresh huddle for the candidate. They are reopening previous allegation of academic fraud, an allegation that was raised twice in his political career. It was first made during his days as the speaker of the House of Representatives and when he ran for governor in 2011.
It has resurfaced lately with petitions flying all over challenging his legitimacy as a candidate of the party with such issues surrounding him.
Recently several advertorials were puplished by a Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, petitioning the All Progressives Congress (APC) over claims that Masari presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Keyamo who filed it on behalf of five APC members in Katsina State – Ibrahim Yadullah, Kabir Mamman, Aminu Hashirmu, Falalu Sale and Ya’u Sule, said that if the APC went ahead to field the former Speaker in the 2015 general elections, those claims could earn him a disqualification from INEC, or if he won, a removal from the governorship seat.
He wrote: “Kindly note, that in the year 2011, the subject of this petition, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari contested for the office of Governor of Katsina State under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC,” Mr. Keyamo said in the petition. “In filling Form CF-001 (Personal Particulars of Candidate), he alleged that he has a Post-Graduate Diploma. As evidence of this, he attached a Certificate in ‘Postgraduate Diploma in Water Quality Control and Management’ from Middlesex Polytechnic, United Kingdom.”
A simple inquiry made at the said polytechnic, according to Mr. Keyamo, elicited a response that no such course was offered by the school in the said year. “Kindly find attached the said response by email. We encourage you to do your own inquiry from the said Institution and draw your own conclusion.
“For the avoidance of doubt, section 182(1)(J) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states as follows: ‘182 (1) No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if
(j) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.’”
Mr. Keyamo called on the APC to either substitute Masari or conduct fresh primaries in the state noting that “We need not emphasize the need for your Party that prides itself on the mantra of “Change” to depart from the tradition of other parties that have fielded questionable characters in the past,” he said.
“The danger of sticking with Aminu Bello Masari as your candidate for Katsina State despite the above facts is all too obvious because we are prepared to proceed to court if you fail to act decisively. We need not say more.
However Masari, who has always downplayed such allegation, said the constitution is clear on the qualification of one contesting for an elective office, pointing out that it only asked for a school leaving certificate.  Masari has offered he had his primary and secondary education but did not sit for his final school examination due to some difficulties. This, he believes, is why he has never presented or claimed any secondary school certificate, and could not be accused of falsifying one.
Masari told our reporter that Section 318 of the constitution  provides that for anybody to aspire to elective offices, he must acquire education up to secondary school certificate level, or primary six school leaving certificate or its equivalent; and service in the public or private sector in the federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Com-mission for a minimum of ten years; and attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to INEC; and the ability to read, understand and communicate in English to the satisfaction of INEC; and any other qualification acceptable by INEC.