Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour tonight. The nine minute session started with a clip of a just-concluded media chat with Goodluck Jonathan focusing on his promise to fight Boko Haram. Christiane Amanpour began by asking Muhammadu Buhari about his reaction to the six-week delay in the elections, and what he feels about Jonathan’s comments on fighting Boko Haram. Buhari said he is disppointed because INEC had decided on the February 14th date a year ago, but since the shift in date is in line with the constitution, he has spoken to his supporters to remain calm and resolute and obey the law. On the question of why the Nigerian military has failed to combat the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, Buhari said their failure was made clear when the National Assembly attempted to conduct a hearing by getting the budget approved for the military over the past three years, following an allegation made by some military officers who granted interviews to foreign media that they were sent to battle fronts without proper weapons. The National Assembly queried the military chiefs on why weapons were not procured and sent to the officers, but the hearing was cut, and this remains why the military has been unable to combat Boko Haram. On his feelings regarding the endorsement by Olusegun Obasanjo, Buhari accepts that Obasanjo is highly respected and is always consulted on serious issues in Nigeria, and so his endorsement means more support for the APC. On how the world media portrays him as a dictator who ruled thirty years ago, who restricted free speech, jailed thousands, executed those whose offences weren’t at that time capital offences and expelled 700, 000 immigrants just to create jobs; if he is still that person and if that personality of a dictator is what Nigerians should expect, Buhari accepts that the portrayal of him was “the degree of accuracy of what actually happened.” But that was a military administration, that he can’t be that harsh person anymore under this present multi-pparty democratic system. On what he can do to combat Boko Haram and the present galloping corruption, Buhari said that Boko Haram gained power due to the failure of the Nigerian military, and that it is a great embarrassment to a military which used to be highly respected internationally. He promised that if he wins, the money voted for security, procurement of weapons and training will be properly utilised. On corruption, if he is committed to rooting out corruption, he said that there is a popular saying that if Nigeria doesn’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. And to illustrate, he cited the hearing conducted by the National Assembly on pension fund and electric power and the corruption in the petroleum industry, that their report and recommendation has remained untouched and is collecting dusts. He is dedicated to fighting corruption. And that ended the brief interview. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour

• published: 12 Feb 2015
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