President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, September 8, spoke with BBC Hausa about his first 100 days in office and the political decisions made so far.
The major issues of discussions were the so-called “lopsided” appointments, anti-corruption war, military fight against Boko Haram and the Chibok girls.
Find the bullet points of the interview, as translated by Daily Trust, below:
1. About change in the security situation
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“We mandated the military chiefs to change the infantry, re-train them, equip them with adequate weapons and put trained and qualified commanders for the soldiers. The three states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa know the successes being recorded now. They can attest to that. And the other parts of the country, too, are coming back to normal life. Places like Kano, where business was crippled has started to pick up. And along the Damaturu – Maiduguri road, up to Lake Chad, security has improved. So the people around the flash points know that success is being recorded.”
2. About the missing Chibok girls
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“They have scattered them, and are being guarded at dispersed locations. Most of the girls are Christians and were forced to embrace Islam. And the sect’s cruel leaders have married some of the girls, obviously against their wish. Others have been left to practice their religion but their condition could hardly be ascertained. Both ground and air security personnel in the Sambisa forest could spot where the girls are, but since the insurgents have also kidnapped housewives and other women, no one could say whether they mixed them or how they dispersed them. “
3. About the process of stolen funds recovery
“So our new approach is to get support from European countries, the US and China. Those doing the bunkering, you need to know the amount first and the banks they deposit the monies, etc. These are the things we are doing presently. And you know, those developed countries are strict on evidences and you have to show the evidences of such cases before they can assist you… When we get the relevant documents, we would bring them (culprits) back to our courts and try them.”
4. About cabinet
“I said within this month. Therefore, I still have three weeks. As such, hold back your question until after three weeks, when September ends without me doing that.”
5. About the so-called “lopsided” appointments
“This is the nature of Nigerian politics. If they will do justice to me, as an elected Nigerian president, let them look at the Constitution a Nigerian president works with, there are people who will closely work with me that don’t need to be taken to the Senate. If I select people whom I know quite well in my political party, whom we came all the way right from the APP, CPC and APC, and have remained together in good or bad situation, the people I have confidence in and I can trust them with any post, will that amount to anything wrong? I have been with them throughout our trying times, what then is the reward of such dedication and suffering? They did not defect because of positions, they did not involve themselves in the pursuit of personal gains, and they accepted their fate throughout our trying moments. What is wrong if I make you the secretary (of the federal government) because I have confidence that things will go normal?”
6. About the secret behind power supply improvement
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“There is nothing strange, except that I said those who bought the electricity companies and the workers must work accordingly. From 1999 to present, Nigeria’s money, totalling $20 billion, not Nigerian naira, but US dollars was spent on Nigeria’s electricity. So the companies involved in whatever way, we have been begging them to come back and work because there may be a time when the push comes to shove on how such monies were spent, the companies must execute the project or refund to Nigeria her money.”
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