"The Issue In This Campaign Cannot Be My Certificate" - Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

APC's Presidential aspirant General Muhammadu Buhari is currently in Kano, and has officially addressed journalists on the controversies surrounding his educational certificates which has been the subject of debates rocking the media for some days now. Below is his press statement in full:

1/ Good Morning, Gentlemen of the Press.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

2/ I only consented to address you this morning because of the genuine concern expressed by many supporters and other well-meaning...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

3/ ...Nigerians that that the issue be addressed. Otherwise, I would have dismissed it for what it is - sheer mischief and would not have...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

4/ ...considered it an issue worth the Nation's while.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

5/ I had assumed all along that all my records were in the custody of the Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army. Much to my surprise,...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

6/ ...we are now told that although a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificates in my personal file.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

7/ This is why I formally requested my old school, the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina [Which is now known as Government College,
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

8/ Katsina] to make available the school's copy of the result of the Cambridge/West African School Certificate. This will be made...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

9/ ...available to the Press the moment this is available.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

10/ However, before we obtain that, let me say for the record that I attended Provincial Secondary School, Katsina. I graduated in 1961...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

11/ ...with many prominent Nigerians, including General Shehu Yar'Adua, former chief of staff at the Supreme Headquarters, and Justice...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

12/ ...Umaru Abdullahi, a former President of the Court of Appeal. We sat for the University of Cambridge/WASC Examination together in...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

13/ ...1961, the year we graduated.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

14/ My examination number was 8280002, and I passed the examination in the Second Division.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

15/ And although the ruling party may want to wish this away, the issue in this campaign cannot be my certificate which I obtained 53...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

16/ ...years ago. The issues are the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of our young people, the state of insecurity, the...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

17/ ...pervasive official corruption which has impoverished our people and the lack of concern of the government of anything other than...
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

18/ ...the retention of power at all costs.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015

19/ Thank you very much.
— GMB Campaign Office (@GMBOffice) January 21, 2015