Salisu Buhari, the Speaker who forged his way to office

Salisu Buhari

In Nigeria's political development, things have happened that are stranger than Fiction. One of them is the case of a young man from Kano who at the age of 29 claimed he was 36. This man had neither a degree nor a diploma but he claimed he did Youth Service.

For him to contest Elections into the House of Representatives, the Nigerian Constitution required that he be at least, 30 years of age. All the same he contested and won.

Not done with that deception, fate had more in store for him. He was the preferred and Elected person to lead the House of Representatives under an opinionated OBJ.

That was when trouble not only broke out for him but it indeed poured aplenty for him. The News magazine led the onslaught and claimed he neither had a degree nor did he have a Diploma.

In his Bio data, he had claimed a Diploma in Accountancy from the Ahmadu Bello University and a Degree in Business Administration from the University of Toronto. Both claims were found to be false.

The young man did not go down without a fight. Indeed through Advertorials in Newspapers, he proclaimed his innocence and stuck to his guns. OBJ in his wisdom commissioned an investigation which punctured his claims and vindicated his accusers.

The youngest Speaker had to man up and resign, apologizing, blaming his zeal to serve his fatherland for the serial falsehoods. He hoped and prayed for forgiveness and a second chance to serve.

Subsequently, he was tried and convicted of Forgery and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with an option of Fine, which he duly paid.

The OBJ administration later granted him a Pardon. Today, he is a member of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria.