Brigadier Olajide Olaleye, the director of public relations of the Nigerian Army, has debunked reports in the Nigerian media claiming that the army could not find the academic records of Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Saharareporters quoted Olajide as saying that the Nigerian Army is in possession of all records of serving, retired and deceased officers since its inception.

Gen Muhammadu Buhari: academic records intact

He added, however, that all military officers are supposed to keep original copies of their certificates.

According to him, in the event where an officer loses his or her original copy of records, the concerned officer must officially apply for copies from the army. He stated that the army responds to such requests in an expeditious manner.

Brigadier Olajide said as a former director of records at the Nigerian Army headquarters, he had seen records of older and retired generals. He added that he was in no doubt that General Buhari’s records were intact.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had triggered speculations when it published the list of presidential candidates, with a note that General Buhari of the APC did not submit any certificate, saying via an affidavit, that the certificates were with the military.

After his early education in Katsina State, Buhari, born in 1942, joined the Nigerian army in 1962
and attended the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna.

From 1962-1963, he underwent Officer Cadets training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in England, United Kingdom.

In January 1963, Buhari was commissioned as second lieutenant, and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

From November 1963- January 1964, Buhari attended the Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna.

In 1964, he facilitated his military training by attending the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, United Kingdom.

He also attended the Defense College India. Col Buhari attended the US Army War College Carlisle in Pennsylvania from 1979 -1980 and earned his command as a Brigadier General.

The respected General Collin Powell attended the same school in 1976 to become Brigadier General.

Some of Buhari’s classmates include General Beltson, General Thomas P Carney, and General Bill Matz, General David E.K. Cooper, wrote Washington based Dr. M.K. Hassan, in a reaction to a statement credited to the PDP secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, who called Buhari a semi-literate.

“The curriculum at the U.S. Army War College earns one a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies and that is what Buhari has”, said Hassan.