The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has said that “God has
helped” his regime to “clear Boko Haram” in the North-East.
The President noted that the threat of terrorism was the
most critical security challenge inherited by his regime but expressed delight
that normalcy had returned to affected states in the North-East.
Buhari, therefore, declared that he had fulfilled the
commitment he made to Nigerians in his May 29, 2015 inaugural address to
frontally and courageously tackle Boko Haram terrorists and stabilise the
country.
This is as he said nobody could blackmail him on
inexplicable wealth and illicit enrichment while in office, stating that he did
not have “one square-inch outside Nigeria.”
These are contained in a statement signed by the Special
Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari says nobody
can blackmail him on inexplicable wealth and illicit enrichment while in
office, saying ‘’I do not have one square-inch outside Nigeria.’
“Speaking at a State banquet, Monday night, organised in his
honour in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, the President restated his vow to
serve God and Nigeria until his last day in office and beyond.
“He advised Nigerians to remain patriotic, saying ‘as I said
more than 30 years ago, we have no other country than Nigeria, we must all stay
here and salvage it together.’
“Noting that the most critical security challenge inherited
by the administration nearly eight years ago was the potent and pervasive
threat of terrorism, the President expressed delight that normalcy has returned
to affected States in North-East Nigeria.
“He recounted that the threat was particularly pervasive
across the North-East geopolitical zone with Yobe State as one of the most hit
by the terrorists.
“He, therefore, declared that he has fulfilled the
commitment made to Nigerians in his May 29, 2015 inaugural address to frontally
and courageously tackle Boko Haram terrorists and stabilize the country.
“‘In the North-East, God has helped us to clear Boko Haram,
the economy has picked up and some people are asking me about the achievements
of my promise to fight corruption.
“‘Well, under this system fighting corruption is not easy.
When I was in the military, as Head of State, I locked up some people because
the Constitution says you must declare your assets and people who couldn’t
explain the differences in their assets, I locked them up.
“‘In the end, I was also locked up. So, if you want to serve
this country you must be prepared for the worst. But one thing that I am
grateful to God for is that nobody can blackmail me. I do not have one-square
inch outside Nigeria and I intend to stay in Nigeria when I retire from public
office.’
“Reflecting on his journey to the presidency and
re-election, the President said:
“‘Between 2003 and
2019, I visited all the local government areas in this country. In 2019 when I
attempted a re-election, I visited every state and the number of people that
came out to see who this Buhari is and was is more than what anybody can pay or
force.
“‘So, I thank God that Nigerians understood me and I made a
promise that I will serve God and Nigerians.’
“President Buhari commended Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe
State for taking advantage of the return of peace and security in the state to
execute people-oriented projects.
“Describing the governor as very competent and courageous,
the President said he was lucky to have him in the saddle as the political
leader in the state, supporting the federal efforts to decimate Boko Haram
terrorist group.
“The President also acknowledged the cooperation of
Nigeria’s neighbours in the fight against insurgency, recalling that his first
visit outside the country in 2015 was to Niger and Chad, to garner support on
tackling the misguided sect.
“President Buhari thanked the Governor and people of Yobe
State, including Senate President Ahmed Lawan, for their warm reception during
the State visit.
“In his remarks, Governor Buni expressed delight at the
President’s inauguration of landmark projects in the state, including the Yobe
International Cargo Airport, Damaturu ultra-modern market, Maternal and Child
Health Complex at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, the 2,600
Housing Estate in Potiskum and the Damaturu Mega School at new Bra-Bra.
“He appealed to the President to approve the takeover of the
Yobe State International Cargo airport by the Federal Government and the refund
of N38 billion expended by the State government on the project.
“Equally, he requested the takeover of the State University
Teaching Hospital, including the Maternity and Child Health Complex.
“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali,
thanked the President for inaugurating a purpose-built, ultra-modern, and fully
furnished State Command Headquarters; Police Secondary School; and Tertiary
Police Hospital during the State Visit.
“The IGP assured the President and Nigerians that the
Nigeria Police are fully prepared for the upcoming 2023 general election and
would remain apolitical in compliance with the presidential directive.
“He disclosed that newly passed out Constables are being
posted on field operations to their Local Government Areas in line with Mr.
President’s directives and ahead of their deployment for the general election.
“‘In furtherance to this, we have exposed our personnel to
specialized election security management trainings, developed Code of Conduct
Handbook to guide the Police and other national security agencies that will be
involved in the exercise,’ he said.
“He added that the Force has also perfected the logistics
and manpower mobilization framework, and fine-tuned the Election Security
Operational Action Plan in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), the Military, Intelligence Community, and other Sister
Security Agencies.
“The IGP thanked the President for the annual recruitment of
ten thousand police Constables over a five-year period, adding that the
Presidential consideration has significantly bridged the manpower gap in the
Force and broadly strengthened their capacity to effectively police the
electoral process.”
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