General Muhammadu Buhari, the winner of the presidential
poll, gave the interview to the Leadership after casting his vote in
his home town, Daura, Katsina state.
The president-elect spoke about key problems of Nigeria and how he would solve them.
On PDP defectors, which join APC
I
think that this is mainly a question meant for the party. I wish John
Oyegun were here to answer you because we have a system. Just because I
am the presidential candidate and the president-elect, I don’t think
that the system has allowed me to usurp the power of the party
executive. But certainly, in a multi-party democratic system,
fundamentally, it is the number that matters for the people. But for the
party, what matters is the ability to manage the number so that the
majority will have its way so that there will be justice. No matter what
remains of the PDP by May 29, I assure you that there will be justice
in APC.
On people who will work in Buhari’s cabinet
It
is a difficult time for Nigerians as you all know. I have said it in
the past that Nigeria has never realised the amount of revenue it
received in the last 16 years. A barrel of crude oil rose to about $140
and it has now crashed to about $50. During these 16 years, we know some
big companies that employed a lot of Nigerians and give them training
facilities like the Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Shipping Line.
Even
the Nigeria Railways is managing to be on paper with some refurbished
engines moving from Lagos to Ibadan and a few other places. If you go
their stations all over the country, you will realise that they are in a
terrible shape. The important thing in a country with a huge population
of youths with more than 60 per cent of them under the age of 30 is
employment. You need these institutions to give jobs and trainings to
Nigerians. It is very disappointing that the PDP-led government
virtually failed to use those resources to make sure that the economy
continues to grow in a sustainable way.
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I
think the worst thing is the lack of accountability and the terrible
budgetary system. Imagine that over 90 per cent of Nigerian budget is on
recurrent. How can you sustain development in a developing country like
Nigeria with only about 10 per cent of your income? Things just have to
change. There must be more money available for infrastructure, for
investment in getting the factories back, employment and getting goods
and services for the population. I think the sins of PDP will be coming
out for several years to come.
On violence during the governorship election
I
think there is less disruption today (Saturday) than it was during the
presidential election. I hope that it was as a result of the bandwagon
effect because APC had the upper hand during the last elections. But
what happened in the South South and the South East cannot be compared
to what happened today. What I saw was that there were a few ballots
snatching in some local government areas in Bayelsa and a few
disruptions in Adamawa State, but that is nothing near to what happened
two weeks ago. I don’t think it is up to 25 per cent of what happened
two weeks ago? I think that after the elections, both parties, APC and
PDP will perhaps make their representations to INEC or the courts and
then more details will emerge. Definitely maybe because the turnout is
much lower. From what I have heard, the turnout is much lower than what
it was two weeks ago. Maybe the people just wanted a president and once
they got one, they just walked away. They are Nigerians and there is
nothing we can do but to convince them that they have to use this weapon
which is the permanent voter card.
I think we should allow INEC to give its comprehensive report.
Meanwhile,
as you mentioned, in some of the states, especially in Rivers and
Lagos, the two parties are slugging it out. I think we have to take our
time and get as much report as possible in accordance with the Electoral
Act. I personally want to be ‘legal’ about this so that people will
appreciate that we believe in a system. What we need to do is to modify
the system according to the law. On what is happening in Lagos, I think
that for whatever political reason, the PDP wants to have Lagos by all
means. I have a lot of respect for the governor of Rivers State for his
courage. It has been a long time as you all know where at a certain
time, the Commissioner of a Police virtually hijacked the state and the
governor was virtually sentenced to the streets fighting thugs without
law enforcement agents to survive as a governor while the constitution
makes it very clear to all of us that the governor is the Chief Security
Officer of the state.
So, a lot of unconstitutional and lawless
acts of the PDP are on record and we intend to make the PDP understand
it and make sure that according to law, those who are responsible for
that are taken to the court and properly charged. We are in this system
because we believe in it and we want it to be stabilized because it is
better for our country. If Nigerians have the confidence that their
votes count, then they will mind their own business and I assure you
that there will be much security in the country. But when people feel
that they are abandoned, then they will resist. I think that by nature,
human beings are rebels especially in Nigeria. You either try and
placate them, convince them and show them that their rights are
respected, or you will not have peace. For what we hear about the money
that changed hands in this country, it would have been impossible for
APC to win anything in this country because we don’t have any treasury
in our pocket. There was no amount of money that could convince
Nigerians this time around. A lot of them took the money and did exactly
what their conscience wanted them to do, while some even returned the
money. Somehow, Rivers and Lagos were somehow seen as strategic to the
PDP. Otherwise, how can APC have a marginal 100,000 votes over PDP in
Lagos which is virtually the capital of the APC in the south west. A lot
of things will come out, but we want to do it basically on facts which
can be verified and quantified.
On Government of National Unity
Again,
you want me to encroach into the party’s main power. Even if I, as
president-elect want to form a broad-based government, I think that the
executive of the party will have some influence on that decision.
So,
for me to maintain a good rapport with the leadership of my party, I
want to keep your question in abeyance until further notice.
On a special court to try electoral offenders
No
matter how the media try, you will not catch me undermining the
authority of the party. I will look for understanding and cooperation
from the National Assembly when a change of the constitution or
Electoral Act is necessary. So, for me to make up my mind here and later
try to lobby is out of it because some of them, if they are very hard,
they will give me a tough time. I will say that I haven’t read the Uwais
Report, but I have read a few of the extracts from the papers, I think
it is a good thing and we will encourage it. But we need to get a
comprehensive report from the field. The running battle from Rivers,
South East and the rest of the South South, especially by Governors
Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and governor of Edo state with INEC officials
and law enforcement agencies in lauding the Army is remarkable and I
think it has to be totally exposed so that Nigerians will know which of
the law enforcement agencies and at what levels are undermining the
constitution of Nigeria because the Electoral Act is derived from the
constitution of the country so that in future, those who are in position
will know that they are not beyond the law. I think that is what will
bring more stability into the system. In view of that, I will try and
work with the National Assembly to make sure that we do something about
it.
On widespread looting after the fall of the PDP
I
will like to work within the system because we believe in it. I have
just told you of about three governors and the battle they have with the
law enforcement agents in their states. We discussed and advised them
to try and document these things legally so that it can be taken before
the court and we will make sure that we register the cooperation of the
court so that people who work against the law are prosecuted, especially
those who have lost their immunity, because this is the best way to
stabilise the system. People must not benefit from being lawless. You
can’t be in a position by virtue of the constitution, subvert the
constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges offered by the
constitution. I don’t think that will be acceptable by the APC. So,
whether you are in the opposition or in government, you have to behave
yourself. I think that is the way we can make progress.
On the solving the biggest problems in Nigeria, indiscipline
I
will mention how it came about. When we had our first Supreme Council
meeting and governors were appointed, in my office, it was only me and
the late Tunde Idiagbon. We discussed and agreed that the main problem
of Nigeria was indiscipline. If we could get majority of Nigerians to
accept it, whichever level they are, we will make a lot of progress. I
could recall that I advised that we should approach the Ministry of
Information because there are a lot of people with first degree, masters
and Ph.D who are sociologists and criminologists who are just warming
their seats, that they should get together and come up with a programme
that would last for years and not just for six months and fizzle out.
That was how we came about war against indiscipline. It was very well
thought out. It was a military system.
In democracy, people want a
lot of freedom, but if they see the restraints in advanced democracies
in Europe and America, they will realise that discipline is forced on
people. There are things that, no matter how much you want to do them,
you can’t do them. I think that we have suffered enough as a people and I
think that people are more prepared to behave themselves now.
About
two years ago, I made some remarks in Hausa and people felt because
now, some senior civil servants who are Directors either at the state or
federal level can’t educate four children because the level of
education has gone down so much. Those that can afford will rather send
their children to Ghana or Sudan and those who can afford it more send
theirs to America and Europe because the educational system in Nigeria
has virtually collapsed.
Therefore, we feel that by voting APC
into power, Nigerians are placing confidence in us. On security, economy
especially unemployment and corruption, I believe that Nigerians will
give us the understanding to make sure that we get our priorities right.
Education is going to be very important because when you educate the
people, you solve half of your problems because there is a level that an
educated person will not accept. But when people are sentenced to
illiteracy, when they are exposed to all manner of social vices such as
ethnicity and religion, they will resort to fighting themselves.
On fulfilling promise to declare Buhari’s asset
I made a statement which has not been correctly captured by the media.
I
said that our generation, from the late Murtala made sure that those
who had appointments must declare their assets and this was later
articulated in the constitution. It is up to the government to make sure
that those who borrow money to build a house and end up with another
house somewhere else with 50 bedroom and 20 living rooms should explain
to Nigerians how they get the money. I could recall that I declared my
assets three times. First was when I got my first political appointment
as governor of Borno state; secondly, when I was leaving government to
go to the United States War College. I declared my assets then because I
was closing my political chapter then technically. I could recall that
Gen. Jemibewon was the Adjutant General of the Nigerian army then. I had
to declare my asset, deposit it there to be taken to court before I was
allowed to proceed to the United States for my course.
The third
one was when I became Head of State. From General Obasanjo down, those
of us that were in the Supreme Military Council, Council of States,
Executive Council and even those who were Permanent Secretaries, at the
time we got our appointments, the courts should be made to produce our
declarations.
On Boko Haram
I think I am
too experienced in internal security to give two months deadline on Boko
Haram. I don’t think I would have made that mistake because I tried to
look at some of my experiences even when I was in uniform with the
rebels from Chad when I was GOC in Jos and with Maitesine. So, for me to
say that when I come into office, I will get rid of Boko Haram in two
months, I don’t think I would have made that mistake. I didn’t.
As
I mentioned on several occasions, we that have at one time or the other
worn Nigeria military uniform felt terribly embarrassed that for six
years, the Nigeria military couldn’t bring order to 14 local governments
out of 774 local governments in the country after Burma, Zaire,
Liberia, Sierra Leone, Dafur where Nigerian military earned respect
internationally for their performances.
To fail to secure 14 out
of 774 local governments, I still can’t reconcile myself with that
disgrace. We will try and work with our neighbours which is the first
thing we should have done such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger who are
fighting Boko Haram for us. Look at Chad helping Nigeria or Niger, or
Cameroon itself. This nation has been humiliated by PDP. Nigeria has
been humiliated by PDP. God willing, with our experiences, we will
quickly marshal support and we are asking Boko Haram to pack and go
