Academic qualifications are a necessary but not a sufficient requirement to contest for the office of president in Nigeria. I believe that Nigeria’s constitution prescribes the West African School Certificate (W.A.S.C.) or its equivalent as the minimum academic qualification that aspiring candidates must satisfy to contest elections to political offices . Is it not reasonable to expect properly informed, responsible, and patriotic aspirants to have better than the minimum academic qualification?
Quite a few presidential candidates have only the minimum, or undefined and spurious academic qualifications. Is INEC paying attention? The INEC list has “professor” as one candidate’s academic qualification? Was this list reviewed, vetted, and approved by any senior INEC official? Is there not one INEC official who knows that “professor” is an academic rank and not an academic qualification? What’s going on in Nigeria with the coming political elections? Should INEC be trusted to do a good job of conducting the elections if it cannot produce an error free list of presidential candidates? Where is the local Nigerian Press in all this?
An interesting observation from even a casual perusal of the list evidences that a majority of the least or very minimally qualified candidates belong to groups that have claimed to be the most entitled to the office of president and have been the loudest?
Government is serious business. The position of president is the highest, and arguably the most important elected political position in Nigeria. It is one elected political position in my considered opinion, that only a few citizens should responsibly aspire to occupy, even when they have the constitutional right to do so. Rights and eligibility are not always one and the same thing. This is one case in point.
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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mobolaji ALUKO
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 5:26 AM
To: USAAfrica Dialogue; NaijaPolitics e-Group; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com; ekiti ekitigroups; naijaintellects; nigerianobserver; NigerianWorldForum; Naija Elections; naija_it_professionals; nitpa
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - STAR INFORMATION: List of the 19 Presidential Candidates For Nigeria's 2011 Elections, Their Gender and Academic/Professional Qualifications
LIST OF THE 19 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR 2011 ELECTIONS, THEIR GENDER AND ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Source: INEC, March 3, 2011
http://www.inecnigeria.org/list-of-candidates-for-2011-presidential-election/
Compiled in present form by Nigerianmuse.com
All Copyrights reserved
Summary: * 19 political parties, 1 female presidential contestant, 4 female vice-presidential contestants.
* John Odigie-Oyegun not ANPP vice-presidential candidate as previously announced
| S/N | Name Of Party | Party Acronym | Presidential Candidate (Gender) Qualification | Vice-Presidential Running Mate (Gender) Qualification |
| 1 | Peoples Democratic Party | PDP | Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (M) PHD, M.SC | Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo (M) |
| 2 | Congress for Progressive Change | CPC | Major. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Retd) (M) DIPLOMA | Pastor Babatunde Bakare (M) LL.B, BL |
| 3 | All Nigeria Peoples Party | ANPP | Ibrahim Shekarau (M) DIPLOMA | John Euboyanwan Kenneth Odi (M) BSC |
| 4 | National Conscience Party | NCP | Dele Momodu (M) BA | Yinusa Tanko (M) MBA |
| 5 | Social Democratic Mega Party | SDMP | Prof. Patrick Okenadichi Utomi (M) PROFESSOR | Alhaji Lawal Kasimu Funtua (M) WASC |
| 6 | Action Congress of Nigeria | ACN | Nuhu Ahmed Ribadu (M) LLB,BL | Tajudeen Afolabi Adeola (M) DIPLOMA |
| 7 | Mega Peoples Progressive Party | MPPP | Hon. Hamisu Santuraki (M) DIPLOMA | Hon. Rasheed A. Shitta-Bey (M) LLB,BL |
| 8 | National Transformation Party | NTP | John Omoniyi Dara (M) MBA | Bilikisu Ismo Magogo (F) MIAD |
| 9 | Hope Democratic Party | HPD | Chief Ambrose Owuru (M) LLB,BL | Ibrahim Danjuma Abdullahi (M) PGD |
| 10 | Better Nigeria Peoples Party | BNPP | Ifeanyichukwu Godswill Nnaji (M) PHD | Kadijat B. Abubakar (F) NCE |
| 11 | FRESH Democratic Party | FRESH | Revd. Chris Oghenebrorie Okotie (M) LL.B | Binitu Fela Akinola (F) BA |
| 12 | African Renaissance Party | ARP | Yahaya G.K. Ndu (M) ADV. DIPLOMA | Rose Yakubu (F) MBA |
| 13 | African Political System | APS | Sir Lawrence Adedoyin (M) MSC (MECH) | Alhaji IbrahimTanko Yakassai (M) ND |
| 14 | African Democratic Congress | ADC | Rev. Peter Uchenna Nwangwu (M) B.A, MSC, PHD | Mani I. Ahmed (M) NCE, B.SC (ED) |
| 15 | United National Party for Development | UNPD | Chief Ebiti Onoyom Ndok (F) OND, PGD, MA | Alhaji Galadima Samari (M) WASCE |
| 16 | Peoples Progressive Party | PPP | Prince Lawson Igbuanugo Aroh (M) BA (POL. SCIENCE) | Barrister Samuel Abidan (M) LLB,BL |
| 17 | Peoples Mandate Party | PMP | Nwadike Bato Chikezie O. (M) BA | Alhaji Ali Abacha (M) TC II |
| 18 | People for Democratic Change | PDC | Alhaji Mahmud Mudi Waziri (M) WASC | Chief Clement Ayogu (M) GCE |
| 19 | National Majority Democratic Party | NMDP | Dr. Solomon Akpona (M) MBA, PHD | Abdullahi Suleiman (M) N.D. |
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